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.