Sunday, September 6, 2009

Split with Singapore (comments from Singaporeans)

Sep 5, 2009
Dear neighbour, don't blame us

I REFER to Wednesday's report, 'Split with Singapore cited as a 'lesson''.

I was astonished that former Malaysian information minister Zainuddin Maidin said that 'Singapore sticks to a Third World democracy despite having a developed world mentality, while Malaysia has a Third World mentality but a developed democracy'.

He implied that Singapore does not enjoy the same freedom as Malaysia. I beg to differ.

First, Singapore did not stoke the May 13, 1969 race riots in Malaysia.

Second, there are signs in Malaysia that a volcano is about to erupt, according to recent media reports. The Hindus are downtrodden: For example, an ancient Hindu temple was relocated to make way for homes for Malays.

In my view, the pot is boiling over because minority races in Malaysia are questioning the position of the Malays and Islam. Singapore should not be a fall guy for woes in Malaysia.

Malaysia as a 'developed world democracy' would do well to clean up its act instead of blaming Singapore for its difficulties.

Retnam Thillainathan

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Sep 5, 2009
If this is what Third World democracy means, we prefer it

I AM dismayed by Wednesday's report, 'Split with Singapore cited as a 'lesson'', in which former Malaysian information minister Zainuddin Maidin gave various reasons why Singapore was asked to leave Malaysia.

He blamed Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for the many woes Malaysia experienced when Mr Lee was prime minister of Singapore. What perturbed me most was Datuk Zainuddin's remark that Singapore does not enjoy the same freedom as Malaysia because we stick to a Third World democracy despite having a developed world mentality.

If Singapore's standing as a socially, economically and politically safe haven is the result of being a Third World democracy, we will not trade this for a developed world democracy where politicians indulge in money politics, and there are street protests and by-elections caused by lawmakers jumping ship.

Jeffrey Law



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