CONFUSED REACTIONS to HARRY LEE’s REPLY; ABDULLAH: Contents NOTED; APOLOGY: WELCOMED by UMNO, ACCEPTED By HISHAMMUDDIN, NOT GENUINUE by SYED HAMID.

It seems a great deal of confusion arises over the inability of the Malay papers to distinguished between “sorry and apology” in their translations. Utusan and Berita. headlined "mohon maaf" to the PM. Sorry is dukacita or sedih. Maaf is apology. Apologise is to "mohon maaf".

And most of the leaders were mislead initially about the “apology” with Education Minister even expressing “surprised” that the senior wise man had made the “apology”. Only late at the end of the day, did the Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar clarify that the “apology” is NOT the desired apology for the remarks made.

But credit must be given to the Prime Minister for just taking note of the contents and asking that such statements should not be repeated without calling for a retraction of the offending remarks. PM Abdullah is a peaceful man who believes in the active nature of peace and let the matter rest. His respect for the law (in the bridge dispute) augurs well for the sound long-term relations between Singapore & Malaysia.

Kuan Yew's "Apology" Is Not An Apology, Says Syed Hamid ; October 03, 2006 22:40 PM

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's "apology" contained in a letter to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is for the "discomfort" caused by his comments about how Malaysia treats its Chinese community, and not for the remarks he made, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Tuesday.

"It is not an apology. He is just saying that he is sorry for causing the discomfort, not that he is sorry for saying that (the controversial remark).

"They are two different things," Syed Hamid told reporters at the breaking of fast at his ministry here when queried about Lee's letter in which he said he was sorry that what he had said had caused a great deal of discomfort to the prime minister.

Earlier today, Abdullah said that he had taken note of the contents of the letter sent to him in response to the one he sent to Lee on Sept 25 asking for clarification over his (Lee's) Sept 15 remarks in Singapore that the Chinese in Malaysia had been systematically marginalised.

Asked whether Wisma Putra would call on Singapore to retract the remarks, Syed Hamid said : "No. I think we have done what we could do. The prime minister has given his statement that is the position of the government.

"And as a leader of the country he has made it very clear. We think we want to move forward in terms of Malaysia being a country where all the different ethnic groups have lived together in peace and security and prosperity. We want to maintain that."

Lee, 83, had told a forum on good governance in Singapore 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 comments drew protests in Malaysia and Indonesia. The foreign ministries of both countries had also summoned the Singapore envoys to explain Lee's remarks. In his letter of reply, Lee said he had no intention to meddle in Malaysia's politics and that he did not have the power to influence it or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia

Malaysia PM Rejects Lee's Apology On Race Remarks
Updated : 03-10-2006 Media : Dow Jones

KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--Malaysia's prime minister Tuesday again blasted Singapore
elder stateman Lee Kuan Yew's claim Malaysia marginalizes its ethnic Chinese, saying the comments were uncalled for and should not be repeated. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had taken note of a letter from Lee in which the former Singapore leader stopped short of retracting his criticism, but apologized for causing Abdullah "discomfort" by making the remarks.


"I have taken note of it, but let me say this: the statement that (Lee Kuan Yew) made in Singapore is uncalled for and not appreciated," Abdullah told reporters when asked whether he accepted Lee's apology. "I think its important that we have to ensure that such statements should not be made again," Abdullah said, adding they could "incite the feelings of Malaysians."

The elder Lee last month said Singapore's neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia "systematically" marginalize Chinese minorities, and expect them to be compliant." Abdullah strongly protested the comments. Lee, the founder of modern Singapore, was once a minister in Malaysia when the Southeast Asian neighbors were briefly united in the 1960s. The two countries, who share close social and historical ties, have had a history of testy relations.

Disputes have ranged from the price of water to airspace use to territorial disagreements. Lee said he didn't intend to interfere in Malaysian politics, but his comments were meant to illustrate that Singapore needs a strong majority government to defend its interests, particularly in maintaining good relations with Indonesia and Malaysia. "I am sorry that what I said has caused you a great deal of discomfort," Lee wrote in the letter to Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The letter was dated Friday and distributed to the media late Monday.

"After a decade of troubled relations with your predecessor, it is the last thing I wanted," Lee said, referring to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a frequent critic of Singapore before he retired in 2003.
____

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: "I certainly don't agree, I certainly reject the premise upon which he made the statement"

Abdullah Has Taken Note Of Kuan Yew's Letter
October 03, 2006 17:47 PM

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday
he has taken note of Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's letter apologising for the discomfort caused by Lee's remarks over the systematic marginalisation of the Chinese in Malaysia. The prime minister, nevertheless, drove home the point that Lee's Sept 15 remarks were uncalled for, and expressed hope that they would not be repeated.

"I've received his letter and I understand the content of the letter and I've taken note of it. But I feel...let me say this, that the statement that Lee Kuan Yew made in Singapore was uncalled for and not appreciated. "I certainly don't agree, I certainly reject the premise upon which he made the statement," Abdullah told a news conference after chairing a meeting of ulama on current issues at his office here.

When pressed whether he accepted the apology, he said: "I've taken note of what he (Lee) has said in his letter, everything that he has said." Abdullah believed that Lee's remarks about how Malaysia treated its Chinese community could not contribute to good neighbourly relations.

"It is important to remember that," he said when commenting on the letter delivered to his office, Monday. The letter was in response to the one Abdullah wrote to Lee on Sept 25
seeking clarification over his controversial remarks that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the republic was shaped by the way they treated their Chinese communities.

Lee, 83, had told a forum on good governance in Singapore 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 comments drew protests in Malaysia and Indonesia. The foreign ministries of both countries had also summoned the Singapore envoys to explain Lee's remarks. In his letter of reply, Lee said he had no intention to meddle in Malaysia's politics and that he did not have the power to influence it or to incite the feelings of the Chinese in Malaysia.

But Abdullah offered another perspective on the matter. "Irrespective of whatever reasons he might have said, such a statement (Lee's Sept 15 remarks) can incite the feelings of Malaysians. "So I think it is important that he has to ensure that such a statement should not be made again," he said.

Asked to elaborate, Abdullah said: "It could well incite people, and the reaction may not be something that is good." He refused to answer further questions on Lee's letter, saying: "I don't want to have a debate on it."
____

Umno Welcomes Lee Kuan Yew's Apology
October 03, 2006 18:31 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama)--Umno welcomed Singapore's founding father Lee
Kuan Yew's apology for his recent remarks over the systematic marginalisation of the Chinese in Malaysia, but took him to task for provoking Malaysia's former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said it was not appropriate for Lee, who is the city state's Minister Mentor, to link the issue to the sour bilateral ties with Malaysia and Malaysian leaders, particularly Dr Mahathir.

""Lee's action in highlighting the decade of troubled relations with the former prime minister gives the impression that Malaysian leaders, Umno leaders and the Malays like to create problems. "This is an insult, and the remarks should not have been made by a leader from a neighbouring country," said Muhammad in a statement, here Tuesday.

He described Lee's comments by dragging Dr Mahathir into the issue, as "fishing in troubled waters" based on the political climate in Malaysia. Lee, who is also Singapore's former prime minister should realise that the problems he faced was due to his own baseless allegations, said Muhammad.

He said Lee should withdraw his controversial statement and admit his mistakes, instead of saying sorry but yet continued his provocative attack on the former premier. The Barisan Nasional Youth today also accepted Lee's apology for the discomfort caused by his comments about how Malaysia treated its Chinese community.


BN Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said it was not easy for Lee to apologise. "We accept the apology, especially when it came from somebody who is very wise," he told reporters after chairing the movement's exco meeting, here.

Hishammuddin, who also Umno Youth chief and Minister of Education, said he was surprised by Lee's move in apologising as he did not expect Lee to do so. Malaysia had only sought clarification from Lee over his remarks and did not demand any apology from him.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had written to Lee on Sept 25 seeking clarification over the latter's remarks that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the republic was shaped by the way they treated their Chinese communities.
Lee in his reply dated Sept 29, among others, said that he had no intention of meddling in Malaysian politics.
In MELAKA, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam said as a veteran leader, Lee should be more sensitive and have respect for the sensitivities of the people and leaders in a neighbouring country by not making provocative statements.
He said the matter should not have happened and should be a lesson so that the good relations which Malaysia and Singapore had enjoyed would not be affected by statements which could hurt the feelings of any quarters.
"The question of apologising does not arise if the Singapore Minister Mentor did not make such statements which had hurt the feelings of the people and leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia," he said in a statement, here Tuesday.
= = = = =

and More Reactions in Report From The Sun ;4 October 2006

`Apology' noted KUAN YEW'S STATEMENT ON CHINESE UNCALLED FOR, SAYS PM; by R. Manirajan and Husna Yusop

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has taken note of the letter of explanation from Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, but stopped short of accepting his apology.
"I understand the content of the letter and I've taken note of it. But I feel that the statement that Lee Kuan Yew made in Singapore was uncalled for and not appreciated, regardless of his reasons," he said.

"I certainly don't agree. I certainly reject the premise upon which he made the statement. I believe it is not good, especially for neighbourly relations." » (theSun says: Page 16) Abdullah said this when asked whether he accepted Lee's apology or considered the matter closed. He said Lee's statement ­ that the Chinese in Malaysia were marginalised and compliant ­ incited the feelings of Malaysians and all races, irrespective of what he said in his reply.

Lee's reply was contained in a long letter that he delivered on Monday to Abdullah in response to the latter's request for an explanation of what Lee had said during a dialogue on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Singapore.
"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," Lee said in his letter, which was released to the media late Monday night.

Lee also included an annex of a dozen news reports which quoted some Malaysian politicians and leaders, including former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, accusing Singapore of marginalising its Malay population. Abdullah, who earlier chaired a meeting of ulama on current issues in his office, refused to take any further questions on Lee and debate about it.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when asked to comment on
Lee's reply, said he will respond only today. Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the movement believes Lee had no other choice but to apologise since his remark had created a strong reaction from all
walks of society in Malaysia.

"When all BN leaders stood up and defended our dignity, I believe, this has more or less made him realise he has no other choice but to apologise. This is the strength and advantage that we have in BN," he said yesterday. On whether he thinks Lee's apology was sincere, Hishammuddin said youth leaders took it with reservations as the mentor minister was one who was wise and experienced. "Whether he is sincere or not, you really need to look at his track record. But what he said has been said and gone down to the ground. With credit to Lee, he does not say things without thinking."

Asked about reference to Mahathir's statement that Malays in Singapore are marginalised, Hishammuddin said he would not "go down that route". "If anybody were to be very hurt, it would be me as the education minister when he has actually closed all Chinese schools in Singapore. But I don't take it to heart because of his apology, so I don't see why the others should." Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
said Lee's "apology" is for the "discomfort" caused by his comments about how Malaysia treats its Chinese community, and not for the remarks he made.
"It is not an apology. He is just saying he is sorry for causing the discomfort,not that he is sorry for saying that (controversial remarks)," he told reporters at a breaking of fast.
"They are two different things." On whether Wisma Putra would call on Singapore to retract the remarks, he said : "No. I think we have done what we could do. The prime
minister has given his statement that is the position of the government."

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the country should move on and stop discussing Lee's statement. He said the relationship of the two countries should be normalised and they should work together in a winwin situation for the benefit of the
people. He said since Abdullah had commented and given his stand on behalf of
the government, MCA should not make another separate statement

See also UPdate (Oct 04 06) in previous post on

HARRY LEE says Sorry; NO Intention to MEDDLE, Influence MALAYSIAN Politics or INCITE FEELINGS; REGARDLESS, PEOPLE Have Own JUDGEMENT-TRUE POSITION

for an ANNEX (to Harry's reply) listing various instances in which Malysian leaders made "marginalised Malays in Singapore" remarks and the government there kept quiet. So the remarks by Harry Lee were justified and no apology needed?

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