I did not apologise to Lee: Umno youth chief

Related: Will this "war" ever end? Asiaweek June 13,1997
                 Objection to 'apology': Star June 17, 1997

UMNO Youth chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday denied that he had apologised to Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew for the movement's strong reaction to his derogatory statement on Johor.

He said he only apologised for some of the offensive words on placards carried by Johor Umno Youth members when they demonstrated their anger at Lee's remarks.

"But unfortunately, my remarks had been misinterpreted by the Singapore Straits Times," Zahid said in a statement issued here yesterday.

He said that as an open-minded person who respected the principles of mutual respect, he believed that there was nothing wrong in apologising for going overboard in the use of some offensive words.

"While we apologise for the use of those (offensive) words, we stick to our principle that one (Lee) should not insult a neighbouring country," he added.

Lee had incurred the wrath of the nation when he, in an affidavit, stated that Johor was a place famous for shootings, muggings and car-jackings.

The statement led to strained ties between the two countries and Lee subsequently apologised and retracted the statement.

The Singapore Straits Times yesterday carried a front-page report quoting Zahid as apologising to Lee.

The report stated that Zahid made the apology after his meeting with Singapore's PAP Youth wing leader Brig-Gen George Yeo on Thursday.

The Bank Simpanan Nasional chairman was in the republic for the bank's annual sports meet with the Singapore POSB Bank.

Zahid, who had been scheduled to return from Singapore today, decided to return yesterday.

"I am very upset with the reports I saw in the Straits Times.

"I do not see why I should stay there for another day," he said.

He explained that Umno Youth's stand on Malaysia's relations with Singapore was that as neighbours, there should not be any prejudice towards one another.

"This was what I expressed to my PAP counterpart during our meeting.

"During the session, I said it is hoped that the past experience (the rift between the two countries) should serve as a lesson to all quarters and we should start afresh in bilateral relations," he added.