Originally posted by CoolMyth:
[b]He said that as long as there is progress and
development corruption and cronyism do not matter.
Did he really said that? 
[/b]
MM Lee says Indonesia's Suharto not getting the recognition he
deserves
By Channel NewsAsia's Indonesia Bureau Chief Sujadi Siswo | Posted:
13 January 2008 1822 hrs
JAKARTA: Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew visited former
Indonesian president Suharto at a hospital in Jakarta on
Sunday.
Mr Suharto is in a "very critical condition" after suffering
multiple organ failure.
Speaking to Singapore media after the visit, MM Lee praised the
former president for bringing progress and development to
Indonesia, and stability to the region.
As Mr Suharto has been widely criticised for corruption and human
rights abuses during his 32-year rule, Mr Lee said he is sad that
the former leader is not getting the recognition he deserves.
Mr Lee is the first foreign leader to visit Mr Suharto after he was
admitted to the hospital more than a week ago.
The minister mentor was briefed by Mr Suharto's doctors before
entering the ward where the 86-year-old ex-leader remains in
critical condition.
Mr Lee said he has come to visit and pay tribute to an old
friend.
He said: "I feel sad to see a very old friend with whom I had
worked closely over the last 30 years, not really getting the
honours that he deserves. He deserves recognition for what he did.
And the younger generations both in Indonesia and in the world
do not remember where Indonesia started. I do. That's why I came
here to visit him.
"He gave Indonesia progress and development. He educated the
population. He built roads and infrastructure. And from Sukarno's
konfrontasi and other foreign policy excesses, he stabilised
international relations, cooperated in ASEAN and made ASEAN more
successful than SARC in South Asia. And today, we have a stable
Southeast Asia."
Despite the growth and prosperity that Mr Suharto brought, the
former military general has come under heavy criticism for abusing
his power.
Mr Lee said: "Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to
his family and his friends. But there was real growth and real
progress. I think the people of Indonesia are lucky. They had a
general in charge, had a team of competent administrators
including a very good team of economists to build up the
country."
Mr Suharto was forced to step down from office in 1998, soon after
the Asian financial crisis that derailed the Indonesian
economy.
Many had put the blame on the former president. But Mr Lee put the
developments in perspective.
He said: "From '67 when he became president right up to '97, the
economy grew and Indonesia was on the point of taking off the
economy. It didn't take off not because of his fault (but) because
bank Indonesia's interest rate was too high, and so the companies
borrowed in USD for low interest rates. When confidence was lost
after the Thai baht crisis and people wanted to pull their money
out, the whole thing collapsed. It was not his fault."
Comparing Mr Suharto to former Myanmar leader Ne Win, who came to
power almost at the same time, Mr Lee said Indonesia is doing
better now because of Mr Suharto's leadership.
Through decades of formal ties established as leaders of two
neighbouring countries, it is clear that a strong bond exists
between the two former heads who played a significant part in the
growth and development of their respective countries as well as
within the region.
- CNA/so
