Straits Times responsible for any repercussions

In a strong rebuttal to the report written by columnist Chua Lee Hoong last Saturday, the Malaysian mission it was not the first time the newspaper had overstepped the parameters of responsible reporting.

"It is most regrettable that the Straits Times saw it fit to include in its pages such flippant and callous writing by a so-called journalist who clearly displays very superficial understanding of the Malaysian political situation and complete insensitivity to regional cultural mores.

"Ms Chua is full of malice. She appears to have mischief on her mind and ill intention to discredit a democratically elected leader of Malaysia. The Straits Times ought to be cognizant that articles such as the one written by Ms Chua could have detrimental effects on the delicate relations between Singapore and Malaysia," the High Commission's first secretary, Puan Sudha Devi, said.

The rebuttal was published today by the newspaper which, coincidentally, also carried a letter by the Singapore High Commission in Malaysia to Utusan Malaysia, a Malay daily, for its March 16 commentary on bilateral ties.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had earlier slammed the Straits Times report as an attempt to intefere in the domestic affairs of Malaysia.

In her column, Chua criticised Malaysia as the only democratic government left in Asia that did not have a leadership change in the last decade as well as Malaysia's economic policies during the recent Asian crisis, especially its selective capital controls.

She wrote: "Japan, Thailand, the Philippines - prime ministers have come and gone like the changing of the seasons. Only in Malaysia have both ruling party and top dog remained unchanged."

The Malaysian High Commission said her personal diatribe against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, especially in calling him the "top dog" of Malaysia, was totally offensive and abhorrent and reflected Chua's crudity as a writer and lack of finesse.

[Editor's note: While ``top dog'', means ``leader'' in Western slang, dogs are considered unclean among Muslims, who comprise more than half of Malaysia's 22 million people].

Taking exception to Chua's "we-are-more-democratic-than-thou" tone, it said the people of Malaysia reserved the right to decide for themselves the politics of the country through the democratic process.

"Ms Chua makes reference also to Singapore and talks about changing of the guard. I wonder whether she understands anything about Singapore politics. Just to put the record straight, while Singapore has seen only one formal change in leadership, Malaysia had seen the baton being passed from one Prime Minister to another four times since its independence," it said.

Chua had also misunderstood Malaysia's economic policies that had not only been vindicated by the country's economic turnaround but was also praised by econnomists worldwide, it said.

"Ms Chua has obviously chosen to turn a blind eye to suit her own agenda, or perhaps someone else's agenda," it added.

The High Commission pointed out that Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong himself had said that just as Singaporeans did not like foreigners intervening in its politics, Singapore newspapers must be circumspect when commenting on politics in Malaysia.

Goh had made the remarks in slamming an editorial by Singapore's Business Times which had suggested that it was time for Dr Mahathir to step down last June.

Associated Press reports: Spats between Malaysia and Singapore are common. The Southeast Asian neighbours have recently tussled over a series of issues from water rights to military airspace.

Youth and Sports Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Singapore's government should state whether it agrees with the commentary.

``Before they point at other countries, it's better for them to take a good look at themselves. Look at their leaders, the processes that are in Singapore,'' Mr Hishammuddin said.

Mr Hamid said the Singapore daily ``should look at how long its own prime minister had served and even its present leadership.

``But that is its business and it is also our business to decide on our own political leadership,'' Mr Hamid said.