Lion city a mess

WHEN I read about the speech that Lee Kuan Yew gave in Tokyo last month, it me wonder why the former Singapore prime minister is starting to increase the times he is poking his nose into the internal affairs of Hong Kong.

From the recent newspaper and television reports that I have seen on Singapore, I would have thought that Mr Lee would be better advised to be more introspective on the mounting problems in his beloved Singapore.

It would seem from unbiased and un-censored reports that the young people of Singapore are rapidly spinning out of control.

The use of drugs, gang fights and racially motivated murders among young people are increasing. There is also an increase in the number of teenagers who have started smoking.

In addition, the Singapore economy is experiencing a dramatic slowing down. High retail rents contrast with slow retail business and tourists are choosing Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia in preference to Singapore.

There are also regular reports of Singaporean nationals being arrested overseas for drug offences.

All of this not to mention the constant bickering with its neighbours, makes me wonder if the crafty old senior minister is trying to deflect attention away from the domestic problems by interfering in other countries' domestic affairs.

One point though, which he seems to be very quiet about, with regard to Hong Kong is the influence of the Communist Party.

Why is he so happy to help the Beijing communist regime while the Communist Party is illegal in Singapore.

Clearly double standards are acceptable to Mr Lee.