S'pore told to disregard RI snipes

S'pore told to disregard RI snipes

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore must not be intimidated by
disparaging remarks made about it by Indonesian leaders, the
Straits Times newspaper said on Wednesday.

"In responding to unreasonable remarks that border on the
presumptuous, it is necessary for Singaporeans to show that they
are not intimidated," the pro-government paper said in an
editorial.

"As a sovereign and independent state, it is not going to bow
to the unwarranted pressure that is being exerted on it."

Relations between Jakarta and Singapore have soured recently
after Indonesian President B.J. Habibie described the city state
as a tiny red dot on a map and accused Singapore of racism
against its ethnic Malay population. His senior adviser Dewi
Fortuna Anwar has described Singapore as a Chinese enclave.

Analysts have said Habibie resented remarks made by Singapore
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew early last year that market
unhappiness with his appointment as vice president would trigger
higher inflation and greater unemployment in Indonesia.

Singapore is dominated by ethnic Chinese and neighboring
Indonesia by ethnic Malays. Indonesia has faced international
criticism for violence against its ethnic Chinese minority.

The paper said the "unfortunate, unfair and indeed
provocative" comments eroded three decades of close bilateral
ties and happy co-existence, adding that Singapore must not lose
patience "even as the baiting of Singapore turns into a ritual
with predictable rhythms".

But it added the city-state would not go on the defensive in a
way that could be mistaken for weakness.

Lee said last month more threats and accusations were to be
expected in light of Indonesia's social and economic turmoil.