MM Lee says M’sian states want greater connectivity with the world
By S. Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said Malaysian states want greater connectivity with the world.
He said these states, whether they are controlled by the ruling national front or the opposition, seek connectivity through open skies policies, good roads and infrastructure.
Mr Lee emphasised that Singapore can play its part in enhancing this connectivity as long as there is long-term cooperation between both countries.
Mr Lee was speaking to Singapore reporters at the end of his week-long visit to Malaysia.
Mr Lee and the Singapore delegation concluded their visits to the various Malaysian states in Kuantan, Pahang, where Mr Lee met the Sultan of Pahang.
Mr Lee said he is confident that Pahang, which is under the ruling national front, will hold the ground.
Mr Lee's discussions with the different chief ministers of the Malaysian states did not only centred on furthering economic cooperation between Singapore and these states. Mr Lee and the Singapore delegation also got a better understanding of the political situation both in the states and in Malaysia, especially after the last general elections on March 8 last year.
On his impressions of the opposition states like Penang and Kelantan which he visited, Mr Lee said: "They have every intention to show that they are different, that there will be transparency, that there will be no favours for those close to them and there will be fair play all round."
The younger generation of ministers said they see a different challenge facing them in furthering close ties with Malaysia.
Singapore’s Education Minister, Ng Eng Hen, said: "Compared to when MM Lee was prime minister… the ties with Malaysians are not similar. The resonance is different. We have to build those ties because fundamentally, I think as neighbours, it makes a lot of sense to get to know one another, both the leadership and people."
However, Mr Lee emphasised much will depend on the state of long-term cooperation between the two neighbours.
He said: "The Tengku Mahkota of Pahang said they want to dredge the Pahang river to stop the flooding. We had the dredging capacity but we could not dredge the river and take the sand unless the central government agreed. And the central government under Dr Mahathir said no sand for Singapore. So we had to go to Cambodia and Vietnam on a longer sea journey to bring these barges down."
Mr Lee added the Singapore government will encourage investors to play their part as long as there is broad-based cooperation.
