Screenshots

Good article by Mrs. Bowie at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/Columns/20061001114901/Article/index_html.

But it's sad to read that malays income to chinese is 1.64 lower....

first u have to fight for equal opportunity and rights with the male counterparts, then come race income discrimination...where does this end?? So how many times lower is a malay lady paid as compared to a chinese male in the employment sector? i dare not ask.

For another perspective from Spore ST, Reme Ahmad
“Non-bumi rights crop up once again with Kuan Yew Marginalization Remarks. Controversy - and race-based angst - will go on with or without Minister Mentor Lee's contribution “ & views from Indian & Brunei Times from updates in:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/09/datuk-zam-accused-harry-lee-of.html

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Can Asean become colour-blind?

South-east Asian nations need to put aside race-based policies to be truly integrated

Friday • September 29, 2006

NAZRY BAHRAWI

FOR believers in political stability, recent controversies must make 2006 seem like a year of living dangerously for the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean).

The recent bloodless coup in Thailand did not bode well for Asean leaders, despite the seemingly strong support for the coup leaders from the Thai masses and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Military rule, said Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yang, is a setback for democracy in Southeast Asia.

Beyond Thailand, inklings of yet a more profound rumbling threatens to unsettle Asean's foundation.

This time, bilateral relations between three of its pioneer members are deteriorating after Indonesian and Malaysian leaders took offence with Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comments at a recent dialogue on good governance.

Mr Lee had said: "My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hardworking and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education … They want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese — compliant."
(Raffles Forum : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew: Reflections on Good Governance
MM Lee says good governance is having a good system to ensure Singapore survives)

Indonesian lawmakers have demanded an apology, and Singapore's ambassador was summoned to clarify Mr Lee's remarks. Mr Amris Hasan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said Mr Lee's remark put Indonesia's unity at risk and threatened the good relations within Asean.

In Malaysia, several United Malays National Organisation (Umno) grassroots politicians called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to ensure Singapore does not benefit from the South Johor Economic Region plan. Leaders there too have demanded an apology and explanation.

How this matter evolves depends on whether the leaders of the countries involved can appeal to calm instead of playing on raw emotions. In an increasingly-globalised world, it is logical to argue that people living in a largely peaceful, multicultural environment, where cross-cultural engagement is a routine daily affair, are unaffected by racial divisions.

Indeed, a post-General Election survey conducted by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) found that a candidate's qualities, such as honesty and commitment, meant more to voters than his or her race.

But results of Malaysia's survey of race relations, released in March, are less encouraging. Unflattering stereotypical mantras like "the Malays are lazy, the Chinese are greedy and the Indians are cheats" have become part of cultural heritage.

On the political front, perhaps the horrors of the 1964-65 race riots in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the Jakarta riots of 1998 where ethnic Chinese were targeted, still haunt the psyche of these countries' leaders. Their socio-historical narratives have left them with little choice but to decree that running a country well means managing ethnicity effectively. Across their political systems, neutralising the perils of ethnicity has manifested in different ways.

The CIMO (Chinese, Indian, Malay, Others) categorisation and principle of meritocracy makes for practical and effective administration and governance in Singapore, while Indonesia invokes the Pancasila (five principles, including the belief in one god and unity of Indonesia) to unite its resident races. Malaysia, while Muslim, is a secular state that defines itself as a multicultural society.

What does all this mean for the future of Asean integration?

Given that member countries each house a rich blend of cultures, there is a need to steer clear of racial and religious controversies. If its members can agree to place the grouping's interests above national interests, then leaders may be more guarded in playing the ethnic card to pander to local politics. After all, most Asian societies have been built on the principle of community over self.

Probably most challenging of all, leaders of Asean need to build a regional character that can transcend the boundaries of race and religion. This means that respective countries must stave off a form of governance centred on ethnicity, and replace it with one that recognises that citizens of Asean have multiple identities.

This is not to say that race should disappear completely, but that it should figure only fleetingly when it comes to public policies. Only when people of Asean lands can accept that laziness is not Malayness, greed is not Chineseness and cheating is not Indianness, can we honestly realise the vision vocalised by Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo — who, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept 22, said that Asean can help the UN manage the "changed global governance" in today's complex socio-political landscape.

The writer, a newspaper editor in Brunei, comments regularly on socio-cultural and political issues in his personal capacity.

Whether he was factually correct or not, whether he was diplomatically / politically correct or not, does anyone think that Mentor Minister Lee Kuan Yew will ever apologise?

How does the S'pore govt handle dissent or any strong opposing views? How has the big stick been used? Who has been sued till "their pants came off" in figurative terms or till even his home had to be sold in real terms? What has happened to magazines which printed unflatering articles?

What conclusion does careful analysis of the above support?

What do you think?

This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com

MM Lee says sorry that recent comments caused discomfort to PM Abdullah

By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 October 2006 2204 hrs

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says he is sorry that his recent comments about Chinese Malaysians had caused Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi a great deal of discomfort.

Mr Lee had said during an international forum in Singapore more than two weeks ago that ethnic Chinese minorities in Malaysia and Indonesia are being marginalised.

In his letter to Mr Abdullah, Mr Lee said he had no intention to meddle in Malaysian politics.

Nor does he have the power to influence Malaysia's politics or to incite the feelings of Chinese in the country.

The remarks about Malaysia's ethnic Chinese minority were made at what Mr Lee called a 'free flowing dialogue session' with former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

Setting the context, Mr Lee explained he was speaking to a liberal audience of Westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore.

He reiterated that Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia and to interact with their politicians who consider Singapore to be 'Chinese'.

Mr Lee said he did not say anything more than what he had said many times before, and added he said less than what he had written in his 1998 memoirs.

Mr Lee said UMNO leaders, including former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed and others, had on numerous occasions, publicly warned Malaysian Malays that if they ever lose power, they risk the same fate as Malays in Singapore, whom they allege are marginalised and discriminated against.

Mr Lee cited examples of such comments in the letter's annex, quoting Dr Mahathir and other leaders in media reports over the years about the "marginalisation" of Singapore Malays.

The Minister Mentor reiterated that Singapore understands the reality of Malaysian politics.

Singapore has never protested at such attacks on Singapore's multi-racial system or policies but merely clarified Singapore's position and explained to Singaporeans the root cause of such difficulties in bilateral relations.

Also in his letter, the Minister Mentor said relations between the 2 countries have improved since Mr Abdullah took the helm in November 2003 and that both Singaporeans and Malaysians appreciate this.

Mr Lee concluded that the last thing he wanted to do, after a decade of troubled relations with the former Prime Minister, was to cause Mr Abdullah a great deal of discomfort. -

CNA/ch

The Star Online > Nation

Monday October 2, 2006

Lee Kuan Yew: I am sorry for the remark

Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has told Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that he was sorry for the "discomfort" caused by comments he made about how Malaysia treats its minority Chinese.

Lee, who is the said after a decade of troubled relations with Abdullah's predecessor (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) it was the last thing he wanted.

"I am sorry that what I said has caused you a great deal of discomfort. After a decade of troubled relations with your predecessor, it is the last thing I wanted.

"I had no intention to meddle in your politics. Indeed, I do not have the power to influence Malaysia's politics or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia,"he said in a letter dated Sept 29 forwarded to Abdullah's office in Putrajaya by Singapore High Commissioner T. Jasudasen yesterday.

A copy of the three-page letter was made available by the Singapore High Commission here last night.

Abdullah had written to Lee on Sept 25 seeking clarification over the latter's controversial remarks that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the republic was shaped by the way they treated their Chinese communities.

Lee thanked Abdullah for the letter and said he made the remarks in a free-flowing dialogue session with former US Secretary of Treasury Larry Summers before many foreign delegates attending the IMF/WB meeting on Sept 15.

He also included in the letter the transcript of the relevant passage as reported by Reuters.

"Let me sum it up nicely, why you must have a government in Singapore which is really firm, stout-hearted, subtle and resolute. My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese.

"They are successful, they are hard working and therefore, they are systematically marginalized, even in education. There are quotas to prevent you.

"So, you've got to make money to go abroad or go to one of the private universities which are being set up. And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant.

"So every time, we say `No' to some scheme to knock down the Causeway and build a bridge, he says, `Oh you're not cooperative, you're only thinking of yourself'. For no rhyme or reason, we knock down a causeway, nearly 100 years old, which served us well. He wants to build a bridge because it looks pretty and he says ships will sail and his containers can move from the East Coast to the West Coast via this.

"But we say no. So, we said, "All right, if you give us commensurate benefits, we'll agree". But you need a government who'll be able to, not only have the gumption, but the skill to say `No' in a very quiet, polite way that doesn't provoke them into doing something silly," Lee said.

He said that on the bridge and the half bridge to remove the Causeway, Abdullah made the position of the Malaysian government clear that Malaysia respected legally binding agreements and acted in accordance with international law.

"This made unnecessary a reference to ITLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea) and the International Court of Justice that would otherwise have been unavoidable. This respect for the law is the basis for sound long-term relations between us," he said.

Lee said he was explaining to a liberal audience of westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore why the republic needed a strong majority government, not a weak coalition that would hamper it in defending its national interests.

"Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with Indonesia and Malaysia and to interact with Indonesian and Malaysian politicians who consider Singapore to be Chinese and expect Singapore to be 'sensitive' and comply with their requests," he said.

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency

Lee Kuan Yew Says Sorry To Prime Minister

General
October 02, 2006 23:52 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, in a letter of response to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over his recent claims about the systematic marginalisation of the Chinese community in Malaysia, said he was sorry that what he said had caused a great deal of discomfort to the prime minister.

He said after a decade of troubled relations with Abdullah's predecessor (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) it was the last thing he wanted.

"I am sorry that what I said has caused you a great deal of discomfort. After a decade of troubled relations with your predeccor, it is the last thing I wanted," he said in a letter dated Sept 29 forwarded to Abdullah's office in Putrajaya by Singapore High Commissioner T. Jasudasen Monday.

The copy of the three-page letter was faxed to Bernama by the Singapore High Commission here Monday night.

Abdullah had written to Lee on Sept 25 seeking clarification over the latter's controversial remarks that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the republic was shaped by the way they treated their Chinese communities.

Lee thanked Abdullah for the letter and said he made the remarks in a free-flowing dialogue session with former US Secretary of Treasury Larry Summers before many foreign delegates attending the IMF/WB meeting.

He also included in the letter the transcript of the relevant passage as reported by Reuters.

"Let me sum it up nicely, why you must have a government in Singapore which is really firm, stout-hearted, subtle and resolute. My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese.

"They are successful, they are hard working and therefore, they are systematically marginalized, even in education. There are quotas to prevent you.

"So, you've got to make money to go abroad or go to one of the private universities which are being set up. And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant.

"So every time, we say `No' to some scheme to knock down the Causeway and build a bridge, he says, `Oh you're not cooperative, you're only thinking of yourself'. For no rhyme or reason, we knock down a causeway, nearly 100 years old, which served us well. He wants to build a bridge because it looks pretty and he says ships will sail and his containers can move from the East Coast to the West Coast via this.

"But we say no... So, we said, "All right, if you give us commensurate benefits, we'll agree". But you need a government who'll be able to, not only have the gumption, but the skill to say `No' in a very quiet, polite way that doesn't provoke them into doing something silly," Lee said.

He said that on the bridge and the half bridge to remove the Causeway, Abdullah made the position of the Malaysian government clear that Malaysia respected legally binding agreements and acted in accordance with international law.

"This made unnecessary a reference to ITLOS and the International Court of Justice that would otherwise have been unavoidable. This respect for the law is the basis for sound long-term relations between us," he said.

Lee said he was explaining to a liberal audience of westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore why the republic needed a strong majority government, not a weak coalition that would hamper it in defending its national interests.

"Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with Indonesia and Malaysia and to interact with Indonesian and Malaysian politicians who consider Singapore to be Chinese and expect Singapore to be 'sensitive' and comply with their requests," he said.

Lee, 83, told a forum on good governance in Singapore on Sept 15 that "My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hardworking and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education.

"And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese -- compliant."

The remark drew protests in Malaysia and Indonesia. The foreign ministries of both countries had also summoned the Singapore envoys to explain Lee's remarks.

The Senior Minister said on numerous occasions Umno leaders including Dr Mahathir and many others had publicly warned Malaysian Malays that if they ever lost power, they risked the same fate as Malays in Singapore, whom they alleged were marginalised and discriminated against.

He added that from time to time when Malaysian politicians attacked Singapore fiercely over some bilateral issue, some of them told the republic's politicians privately to just accept that as a part of Malaysian politics and not to react to those attacks.

"Singapore understands the reality of Malaysian politics. We have never protested at these attacks on our multi-racial system or our policies, except to clarify our own position when necessary.

"But we have to explain to our people the root cause of these difficulties in our bilateral relations. Otherwise Singaporeans will believe that their own government is doing wrong either to our own people or to Malaysia.

"As for the international audience, with so many foreign embassy staff and foreign correspondents reporting on Singapore and Malaysia, plus tens of thousands of expatriate businessmen working in our two countries, these people will come to their own judgement of the true position regardless of what I say," he added.

Lee said he had not said anything more than what he had said many times before and in fact he had said less than what he had written in his memoirs published in 1998.

He said he had no intention to meddle in Malaysia and indeed he did not have the power to influence Malaysia's politics or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia.

He said since Abdullah took over as the prime minister in November 2003, relations between both countries had much improved for which he believed both Singaporeans and Malaysians appreciated.

In his PS (post-script), Lee said the fact that Abdullah had written to him had been well publicised and he had been asked about his reply, he had to release his letter to the media after the prime minister received it.

-- BERNAMA

From The Straits Times Singapore

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Lee Kuan Yew's letter to Abdullah Badawi dated Sept 29

THANK you for your letter of Sept 25, 2006.

I made the remarks in a free-flowing dialogue session with former US secretary of treasury Larry Summers before many foreign delegates attending the IMF/WB meeting. To put what Reuters reported into context, I set out the transcript of the relevant passage:

'Let me sum it up nicely, why you must have a government in Singapore which is really firm, stout-hearted, subtle and resolute. My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they are hardworking and, therefore, they are systematically marginalised, even in education. There are quotas to prevent you. So, you've got to make money to go abroad or go to one of the private universities which are being set up. And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant. So, every time, we say 'No' to some scheme to knock down the Causeway and build a bridge, he says, 'Oh, you're not cooperative, you're only thinking of yourself.' For no rhyme or reason, we knock down a causeway, nearly 100 years old, which served us well. He wants to build a bridge because it looks pretty and he says ships will sail and his containers can move from the East Coast to the West Coast via this. But we saw no... So, we said, 'All right, if you give us commensurate benefits, we'll agree'. But you need a government who'll be able to, not only have the gumption, but the skill to say 'No' in a very quiet, polite way that doesn't provoke them into doing something silly.'

On the bridge and the half bridge to remove the Causeway, you made the position of your government clear; that Malaysia respects legally binding agreements and acts in accordance with international law. This made unnecessary a reference to ITLOS and the International Court of Justice that would otherwise have been unavoidable. This respect for the law is the basis for sound long-term relations between us.

I was explaining to a liberal audience of Westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore, why Singapore needs a strong majority government, not a weak coalition that will hamper us in defending our national interests.

Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with Indonesia and Malaysia, and to interact with Indonesian and Malaysian politicians who consider Singapore to be Chinese, and expect Singapore to be 'sensitive' and comply with their requests.

On numerous occasions UMNO leaders, including Dr Mahathir and many others, have publicly warned Malaysian Malays that if they ever lose power, they risk the same fate as Malays in Singapore, whom they allege are marginalised and discriminated against (see Annex*). And from time to time, when Malaysian politicians attack Singapore fiercely over some bilateral issue, some of them tell us privately that we should just accept this as part of Malaysian politics and not react to these attacks.

Singapore understands the reality of Malaysian politics. We have never protested at these attacks on our multiracial system or our policies, except to clarify our own position when necessary. But we have to explain to our people the root cause of these difficulties in our bilateral relations. Otherwise, Singaporeans will believe that their own government is doing wrong, either to our own people or to Malaysia.

As for the international audience, with so many foreign embassy staff and foreign correspondents reporting on Singapore and Malaysia, plus tens of thousands of expatriate businessmen working in our two countries, these people will come to their own judgment of the true position, regardless of what I say.

I have not said anything more than what I have said many times before. In fact, I have said less than what I had written in my memoirs published in 1998. I had no intention to meddle in your politics. Indeed I do not have the power to influence Malaysia's politics or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia.

Since you took over as Prime Minister in November 2003, relations between our two countries have much improved. Singaporeans, and I believe, Malaysians too, appreciate this.

I am sorry that what I said has caused you a great deal of discomfort. After a decade of troubled relations with your predecessor, it is the last thing I wanted.

Yours sincerely,
Lee Kuan Yew

PS: The fact that you have written to me is now well publicised. As I have been asked about my reply, I will have to release my letter to the media after you have received it.

* The Annex lists numerous media reports on Malaysian leaders talking about the alleged marginalisation of Singapore Malays.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Annex to Lee Kuan Yew's letter

MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has been strongly criticised in Malaysia for his recent comments on Chinese in the country. In a letter yesterday to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, MM Lee explained the context of his remarks and said sorry for the discomfort he caused Datuk Seri Abdullah.

The Minister Mentor also noted that on numerous occasions many Umno leaders, including former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, had alleged that Malays in Singapore were marginalised and discriminated against.

His letter contained an annex listing several occasions when such remarks were made:

No: 1.

Date: 3 Sep 06

Who: Umno Youth Deputy Chief Khairy Jamaluddin

Where: China Press

What: Khairy was reported to have said that the Malays in Penang faced the same fate of being marginalised as those in Singapore and that many of them were forced to move elsewhere.

No: 2.

Date: 28 Aug 06

Who: Deputy Health Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Where: The Star

What: This article reported that at the Bukit Mertajam Umno delegates' conference, the Bukit Mertajam Umno division called on Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon to give up the Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd Chairman's post to Umno. The division chief alleged that Dr Koh had 'snatched' the chairman's post away from Umno.

Deputy Health Minister Abdul Latiff, who opened the conference, said that he sympathised with Penang Malays because 'I understand they do not want to end up becoming like the Malays in Singapore'.

No: 3.

Date: 29 May 05

Who: Former PM Mahathir Mohd

Where: Mingguan Malaysia

What: After a visit to Palestine, Mahathir was asked what advice he had for the younger generation so that they would understand the Palestinian crisis.

Mahathir replied that when he was Education Minister, a Palestinian professor had told him that Malaysians should be grateful for their good fortune. Mahathir added: 'Let us not go far. Look at Singapore. Do we want to be like Muslim Malays in Singapore? Yet we are not grateful and have not taken steps to ensure that our country will not suffer the same plight'.

No: 4.

Date: 3 Oct 02

Who: Then PM Mahathir Mohd

Where: Bernama

What: At a dialogue held in conjunction with the third 'Malay and Islamic World Convention' in Malacca, Mahathir said that Malaysia's Malays might become a minority group like the Malays in Singapore if they continue to quarrel among themselves and do not work hard.

On 3 Oct 02 in Bernama, he was quoted as saying that there were groups that claimed that the Singapore Malays were better off than Malaysian Malays, 'but the fact as can be seen now is that Singapore Malays are not given the opportunity to hold high posts in various fields such as the military.'

He said that Malays in Malaysia were at one time nearly reduced to the same fate as Singapore Malays, a minority race, but that they were saved by the economic depression in 1930, when many Chinese and Indians returned to their home countries.

No: 5.

Date: 26 Aug 02

Who: Then PM Mahathir Mohd

Where: Bernama

What: At a Puteri UMNO information session, Mahathir warned that if the Malays continued to be disunited and questioned every move the government made, they would be marginalised, not just in Penang but all over the country. He said a worse fate would befall them if they were also lazy to improve their standard of living.

He said: 'This will lead to the degradation of their race, not just in Penang but all over the country.' He added that 'The Malays in this country must not forget. At one time we were almost like Singapore and we must remember that in the 30s the migrants formed the majority of the population.'

However, Mahathir denied the claim that few economic opportunities had been given to Malays. He said that 'we have given them substantial economic opportunities...but sometimes what we gave them, they gave to other people instead.'

No: 6.

Date: 11 Dec 00

Who: Then PM Mahathir Mohd

Where: Bernama

What: In response to Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisation's Election Appeals Committee) call for equal rights and meritocracy, Mahathir said that meritocracy was used as an excuse for blocking and oppressing native people of their rights by immigrant communities as seen in what he described as an 'immediate neighbouring country and other nations'. He added that '...we've seen how natives of the land become marginalised, impoverished and have no role in the government in the name of so-called equal rights ad meritocracy.'

Following Mahathir's remarks, Utusan Malaysia (UM) carried a front-page article entitled 'Singapore Deliberately Weakens The Malays' based on Lily Zubaidah Rahim's 'The Singapore Dilemma: The Political Educational Marginality of the Malay Community', which claimed that the Singapore Government had over the years actively marginalised the Malays in Singapore. This was followed by a spate of comments by Malaysian politicians on the issue, for example:

12 Dec 00: Mohd Ruzi Jamil (President of the Kedah Federation of Peninsular Malay Students) said that Singapore Malays' weakness in education and the economy was caused by political pressure imposed by the Republic's leaders. He stressed that many of the Malay rights have been withdrawn and they are not given equal opportunities to compete with other races in the country.

14 Dec 00: BN Senator Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said in Parliament that 'by keeping quiet, PAS wants the Malay community in the country to face the same fate as the Malays in Singapore who have been neglected by the republic's government although the Singapore Constitution demands that the rights of the Malays in that country be protected'.

21 Dec 00: Tan Sri Aziz Tapa (UMNO Veteran and former Malacca State Assembly Speaker) said that 'I think that there is no need for a dialogue because we know the motives of Suqiu are the same as DAP: to turn Malaysia into something like Singapore.'

No: 6a.

Date: Dec 00 to Jan 01

Who: Various

Where: Various

What: During the Suqiu controversy, following Mahathir's comments as listed immediately above, there was also a media campaign in the Malaysian papers attacking Singapore for marginalising the Malays. Reports that were published included those listed below:

* 13 Dec 00 - UM - 'Singapore Marginalises the Malay Community'

* 13 Dec 00 - UM - 'Singapore Malays' Weakness is due to Political Pressure'

* 16 Dec 00 - UM - 'Suqiu making Malays Here Have the Same Plight as Malays in Singapore'

* 19 Dec 00 - New Straits Times - 'Meritocracy comes under Attack'

* 21 Dec 00 - UM - 'Living in Isolation in own Country'

* 26 Dec 00 - UM - 'Penang Malays follow Singapore's footsteps'

* 5 Jan 01 - UM - 'Suqiu: Learn form [sic] Singapore's Problem'

No: 7.

Date: 23 Aug 98

Who: Then Special Advisor to UMNO Jelebu Division

(Note: He is now Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage)

Where: UM

What: He accused Singapore of 'denying the right of Malays to hold senior positions in the SAF.'

He also said that 'the issue of Malays being neglected in such a way actually is not a diplomatic issue but is an ethnic issue which insults everyone who calls themselves a Malay. Now we can ask, what has become of the meritocracy policy which is shouted by Singapore all this while?'

Alamak! ALAMAK!!

(Stooping to pick up my jaw from the floor... after it dropped off in utter surprise.)

There IS hope for Lee Kuan Yew. A balanced and reasonable reply, including a "sorry" for the "discomfort" that what he "said has caused" Pak Lah.

Not for the actual statement that Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia have been "systematically marginalised" but for "the discomfort" the statement caused.

There have been times when I do not think highly at all of the MM, but I must say his "apology" statement is most balanced and fair.

With a pointed concluding point which is a beauty:

"After a decade of troubled relations with your predecessor, it is the last
thing I wanted"

Interesting note for LKY. LKY should mind his own business as to the way Malays in Singapore are treated. He has the power to amend the wrong doings he has done thus far on the Malays in Singapore. Can he deny these all?. Read this.........

My Letter to PM

Subject: Marginalisation

Dear Prime Minister.

May you and family be in the best of health and blessings.

If there is a way, can you ask local papers or media channels to stop from reporting or discussing the remarks made by MM Lee about Malaysian Chinese?

I say this coz comments published in Singapore (supporting MM's comments) are made from a skewed angle and do not take into account the historical reasons.

The comments so far are made by Chinese Singaporeans who do not really understand the issues. They also seem to suggest that similar problems do not exist in Singapore when, in fact, Singapore Malays in their own motherland, Singapore, are treated more dismally that Malaysian Chinese in the land of Malay Bumis.

Indeed, if this issue is to continue, then it is only fair to show that Chinese leaders in Singapore are doing greater injustice to Singapore Malays than Malay Malaysian leaders to Malaysian Chinese.

The Malaysian Chinese are not bumis in Malaysia yet they get nearly everything:

a) Right to have Chinese vernacular education from preschool to university.
b) Right to retain their Chinese names [The Chinese in Indonesia and Thailand get nothing of that sort. Worse, they have to have Thai or Indonesian names]
c) Right to display Chinese names in Chinese characters in huge public adverts in buildings and public places
d) In development projects, they reap early profits as all projects require infrastructures and these materials are controlled by Malaysian Chinese
e) Voting strength by constituencies also show so many Chinese advantage.

It is good for us not to say that Malaysian Chinese are "marginalized".

If they want to talk about marginalization or injustices, it is better that they talk about Singapore Malays who, in their own motherland, are marginalized and subject to so many injustices:

1. Malay language has lost its stature in the State and industry
2. Chinese language has now become a universal precondition in employment
3. Malays are "cordoned off" in National Service. Many key security sites are out-of-bounds to Malays [Even Malay Ministers and MP's are not allowed to enter such areas]
4. The Civil Defence takes in high proportion of Malays considering the lower stature of CD and the higher death and injury risk in CD services.
4. No Malays are holding key positions in government and statutory boards.
5. Malay MP's are given sinecures. In fact Malays are deemed fit only to be Ministers in Sewerage, Drainage, Refuse, Welfare and Drugs matters
6. Promotions and postings in government and statutory boards also show the Singapore Chinese' disdain towards Singapore Malays
7. Recent retrenchments also reflected that Singapore Malays "should go first"
8. Proportion of Singapore Malays who remained unemployed is high, notwithstanding good educational and vocational qualifications
9. Vast in-take of Chinese from China, Hong Kong & Taiwan into Singapore but strict control of Malays from Malaysia & Indonesia.

I hope your office would do something to stop this, or rectify the matter by giving the issue its proper balance.

I cc this note to BH Singapore and Malaysia.
I do not cc to Straits Times as they do not publish letters of this kind.
I cc to TODAY coz two strong letters were published in today's TODAY edition.

Regards,

Mansor Haji Sukaimi
Former Member of Parliament (1976-1984)

YNOS:
Your letter is so insensitive and truly does not show how shallow your thinking about the whole issues.

I have worked with singapore for 10 years now and in that journey ..have worked with many SIngapore malays who although have lost their culture and heritage but managed to become the cream of the crop . They are well educated , specialiszed in their own careers , well manerred and loves the country very much . At the cost of their " Malayness" they have managed to become global competitors and achieved dreams that only malaysian malays can dream about. They are there despite a majority chinese population , on par in terms of respect, stature and financial grounding.

The Malaysian Chinese are not bumis in Malaysia yet they get nearly everything:

a) Right to have Chinese vernacular education from preschool to university.

Well malays have national school and when cannot filled them up, attempt to close vernacular school so that national schools can be filled up.

b) Right to retain their Chinese names [The Chinese in Indonesia and Thailand get nothing of that sort. Worse, they have to have Thai or Indonesian names]
These are cultural background which cannot be compared to other countries.

c) Right to display Chinese names in Chinese characters in huge public adverts in buildings and public places

The Jawi writing have even been on labels found in tins..building ..almost everything . you don't hear the chinese harping on the issue.

d) In development projects, they reap early profits as all projects require infrastructures and these materials are controlled by Malaysian Chinese

Don't cry foul when you can't achieve those things on a level playing field.
Most projects GLCs are monopolized by Malay companies...are the Chinese harping on those issues..?

e) Voting strength by constituencies also show so many Chinese advantage.

Yet they are many of us who voted for BN,

SO Wat the fuss about ?
Pardon me for my "insensitive counter remark" as Harry Lee's point are made even clearer as you tried to justify your insensitivity