Lee Kuan Yew urged not to raise sensitive issues on Malaysia

(Bernama) – Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew not to raise sensitive issues on Malaysia which could threaten stability and racial harmony in this country.

“As a respected Asian statesman, he (Lee) should not issue statements that could hurt the feelings of his neighbours (Malaysians),” he said after opening the annual general meeting of the Veteran Commandos’ Club of Malaysia, here, Friday.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, said as a neighbour, Lee should not dispute Malaysia’s national leadership and not raise sensitive issues with a racial tinge.

Lee was reported in The New York Times on Sept 1 to have criticised Malaysia’s system, accusing it of being unfair to the other races and sidelining them.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also, in his blog, hit out at Lee for his statement, saying it was baseless and that racial segregation was systematic and worse in the island republic.