The Singapore Factor In Malaysian Politics
The hypocrisy and the inconvenient truth
By Matthias Chang, Future Fastforward
Utusan Malaysia accused DAP advisor, Lim Kit Siang as having once served as the press secretary to former Singapore prime minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and because of this background, Singapore will use DAP as the means to achieve her political objectives for Peninsula Malaysia.
Wow! This is indeed a serious accusation.
But, if one is to look at the facts objectively, the accusation by Utusan Malaysia is not only mischievous, but downright stupid. It is gutter politics.
If truth be told, UMNO politicians (including the rank and file) hold the view that the Chinese being immigrants were very fortunate to be given citizen rights when UK granted independence to Malaya. It was a huge concession by UMNO leaders. It was a political deal entered between UMNO and the MCA. And, the Chinese must forever be grateful to UMNO.
This is the “truth” and “reality” which UMNO insists must be accepted by one and all.
I have no wish to enter into the polemics of this divisive issue, but suffice to say that Utusan Malaysia and UMNO politicians must explain to their followers and the larger Malay community why in spite of their aversion to the Chinese in Malaysia (a socalled potential Trojan Horse of the Singaporeans and as alleged against Lim Kit Siang), they are in awe of the former prime minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew?
I refer to the visits by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and the red carpet treatment accorded to him. Other foreign leaders, such as Margaret Thatcher were treated with less, much less pomp and ceremonies. But, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was given every opportunity to lecture to our leaders and even our “first lady” was given a special audience with this Chinese leader. Our intellectuals in leading Think Tanks were only too eager to absorb his wisdom on statecraft, economic theories and geopolitical analysis. Future prime ministers would do well to pay Mr. Lee Kuan Yew a visit to legitimise his standing as the future leader able to stand on par with this ivory-skin Englishman.
UMNO political and business wheeler-dealers never cease in their efforts to seduce and lure Singapore businessmen to invest in Malaysia. We need not look further than the multi-billion Iskandar project in Johore. Its success hinges largely on Singapore and her investments in the region. The mass media is replete with editorials, articles and pictures depicting the so-called close ties which our leaders have with their counter-parts in Singapore.
