Prepare for more heat, says Lee Kuan Yew

As leaders of neighbouring countries come under stress,
more accusations and threats against republic will arise.

SINGAPOREANS should brace themselves for more accusations and threats, as leaders of crisis-hit countries such as Indonesia come under more stress in coming months, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew warned last night.

"Our region is still in a state of disarray. As the internal situations of the crisis-hit countries worsened, there have been more accusations and threats against Singapore. When countries are under pressure, their leaders say and do things that they normally would not.

"We must expect more of this. As the elections in Indonesia heat up, tensions and tempers will rise. We have been blamed for things that have nothing to do with us," he told about 500 grassroots leaders and constituents at a Chinese New Year dinner held at the Tanjong Pagar Community Club last night.

Indonesia goes to the polls in June, and the new People's Consultative Assembly is scheduled to elect a president in November.

While Singapore sought stable relations with Indonesia, it had to consider its response when tensions arose, said Mr Lee.

"We must carefully consider whether our relations will get better or worse if we try to placate them for the sake of peace and quiet."

Singapore's relations with its largest neighbour had seen ups and downs since Indonesia's armed insurgency campaign of Confrontation against Malaysia in the 1960s, he noted.

Two Indonesian marines who had set off a bomb in Orchard Road which killed two Singaporeans were tried and convicted of murder.

"The Indonesian government asked us to pardon the two. We wanted good relations.

"But we had to leave everyone in no doubt about Singapore's absolute commitment to the rule of law and our intention to conduct relations with the world on a basis of mutual respect and equality."

Singapore hanged the two Indonesian marines in 1968. Organised riots broke out, and relations were rocky for several years.

Calm was restored when General Suharto became President. From the 1970s, a stable long-term relationship was established, which was based on trust and confidence between two independent countries.

"That understanding served both countries well. We were able to embark on many areas of cooperation for mutual benefit."

The stable relationship lasted 30 years, until last May when President Suharto resigned.

Mr Lee said Singapore continued to seek "rational and stable relations with Indonesia, on an equal basis as two sovereign countries".

It would be patient and "stay out of their way" until political uncertainties were resolved, and wait to establish "good long-term relations" with whoever was elected as president, he said.

Mr Lee, who delivered his speech in English and Mandarin, also recounted how stress over Hongkong's situation had fanned the "absurd" media frenzy over rivalry between Hongkong and Singapore.

"In the nature of the relationship, Hongkong and Singapore will always both cooperate and compete. The success of one is a spur to the greater success of the other."

Concluding his assessment of the region, Mr Lee said: "This crisis will pass. We have to manage this period of strain with once confident, but at present, testy neighbours.

"Most of all, we have to concentrate on resolving our own slowdown, and improve our competitive position when the rebound comes, as it will."