(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): The instruction by Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew to his counsel to seek the court’s permission to have his statement describing Johore as ”notorious for shootings, muggings and car-jackings” removed from court records is most welcome and should put to rest an unpleasant episode in Malaysia-Singapore relations.
The statement by Lee Kuan Yew yesterday reiterating his “unreserved apology” for the offence has removed the unhappiness that the earlier statement of unreserved apology had been made by his press secretary and not by Kuan Yew himself.
Malaysians are right and justified to feel outraged by the insensitive and unwarranted derogatory reference to Johore by Kuan Yew in his affidavit, but it is important that Malaysians must remain dignified in their outrage and protests and do not say or do things which reflect badly whether on the people or government of Malaysia.
Let this unpleasant episode be a lesson to Singapore leaders that they have to be sensitive to the feelings of neighbouring peoples and countries whatever the achievements of the island-state.
(18/3/97)