YOURSAY | 'Kausikan shouldn't be meddling in Malaysia's internal affairs, should he?'

S’pore envoy confuses racial dominance with supremacism

Ferdtan: A good rebuttal from Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua. He should send this reply to Singapore's Straits Times , which published the island republic’s ambassador-at-large Bilahari Kausikan's article on Chinese Malaysians’ so-called desire to seek the system built around the principle of Malay dominance be changed.

This is preposterous to say the least, and it coming from a Singapore diplomat.

No one in Malaysia, especially from the Chinese community, is delusional enough to really believe that Malay dominance can be changed. Given that they comprise the huge majority and in a one-man-one-vote system, how can that be changed?

Kim Quek: It is apparent from Kausikan’s article that he is framing the current political upheaval in Malaysia as a Mahathir-Najib power struggle; and in the process of propping up Prime Minister Najib Razak, Kausikan has slandered the current broad-based people’s movement against the corruption-ridden Najib leadership as a Chinese Malaysian uprising to topple Malay dominance.

Such a heretical analysis is as false as it is vicious. Apart from defiling the image of Singapore as a state without moral principles in its foreign policy, Kausikan has also insulted all patriotic Malaysians who are aspiring to extricate their country from the failed leadership of Najib Razak.

Since Kausikan’s article was published in the Singapore government-controlled Straits Times , we take it that it represents the official stand of the PAP government, unless the views contained therein are promptly disclaimed by the Singapore government.

If the Singapore government still believes in fairness, it must allow Pua’s article of rebuttal be published in full in Straits Times .

Hmmmmmmmm: I guess Kausikan thinks that a strong Malaysia is bad for Singapore. Surely the cake is big enough for both to be strong?

Prudent: Singapore is as fraudulent as the worst of the Umnoputras when it comes to their Asean neighbours. They want to work with Umno. They are afraid of an enlightened multiracial coalition coming into power and transforming Malaysia.

They are afraid that with the transformation of Malaysia into an economic and political powerhouse, they may even be confined to being an irritating little dot at the bottom end of the Malaysian peninsula.

Retnam: Kausikan is repeating exactly what their former PM Lee Kuan Yew said previously about Indonesian president Suharto. Suharto was internationally known as a completely corrupt despicable despot.

But he was easy to deal with from Singapore's point of view. So Suharto had to be supported. God, why do people say Lee was a great statesman?

Third Eye: Kausikan is not one of the brighter diplomats serving Singapore. Young Malaysians think less of race than of justice and economic opportunities, whether Malays, Chinese or Indians. This diplomat is delusional himself.

StrainingGnats, SwallowCamels: Pua, thanks for this thoughtful response. Nobody, as far as I can tell, from Putrajaya has responded. Nobody from the government has decried it as interference in our domestic affairs.

And Kausikan, with due respect, you are wrong on your basic premise and on a number of your rather shallow conjecturings. Malaysia and Singapore are close and good neighbours. We should cooperate; not hurl insults.

It is to our mutual benefit and also the good of the region that we remain as salubrious neighbours. You do not need a weak and therefore 'pliable' Malaysia for Singapore's present and future prosperity.

Perhaps mutual and regional prosperity is not as important to you as regional, geopolitical supremacy? What are you afraid of?

That an honest, upright Malaysia led by an honest government, perhaps much like that of Singapore, would vie for investments and retain our precious human resources that have relocated to Singapore because of disappointment, fear and a preference for justice, equality and advancement?

'Beggar thy neighbour' or a variation of that is not a healthy foreign policy. Or, attitude for that matter. It is not healthy - salubrious - both for you and your neighbour. It’s much better all round to work towards bringing in an honest, hardworking, bright and new government.

Is that what you are afraid of? You don't have to be. Will Strait Times provide an equal opportunity for Pua to submit a response? If no, why not?

Pg People: Shouldn't Kausikan be called in by Putrajaya for the statement he has made? He shouldn't be meddling in Malaysia's internal affairs, should he?

Legit: But wait! I thought they say DAP and PAP are supposed to be making secret deals behind Umno's back? So what is it now? Perhaps Najib and PAP are making secret deals behind DAP and Umno's back.

Kausikan's article would never have been published in Straits Times without the Singapore government's approval.

By the way, this article stinks to high heaven with all its falsehood and very poor understanding of what is happening in Malaysia. It’s very surprising indeed that a paper like Straits Times would publish rubbish like this.

Apapunboleh: It appears that Singapore prefers to work with the devil they know, rather than an angel they don't.

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