Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor arrived at Parliament House to pay respects to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. They were met by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong
Mr Lee will be among historys
greats, says Najib in tribute Malaysian PM thanks Mr Lee for strengthening bilateral ties between Singapore, KL
alaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah
Mansor and several other Malaysian officials paid tribute to Singapores founding father Lee Kuan Yew yesterday when they arrived at Parliament House to personally convey Malaysias condolences, saying all Singaporeans owe him a huge debt ofgratitude. Mr Najib was met by Mr Lees eldest son, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and said the Malaysian government and the Malaysian people would like to express their heartfelt condolences on the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a great man whose leadership, vision, fortitude,
Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a great man whose leadership, vision,
fortitude, perseverance helped shaped modern Singapore into what it is today, an advanced economy ... finding its own place in the world. All Singaporeans owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
perseverance helped shaped modern
Singapore into what it is today, an advanced economy ... finding its own place in the world, said Mr Najib. All Singaporeans owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Mr Lee Kuan Yew is also a man who helped shaped Southeast Asia as a region of peace and prosperity. He will go down as one of the great men in history, whose vision and leadership helped make this world a better place. I would like to thank him for strengthening the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore.
Mr Najib was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman,
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel and Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Mah Siew Keong. In the past, Malaysias relations with Singapore have been difficult, both when it was part of Malaysia and after the 1965 separation. Mr Lees death is not expected to have much impact on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore now that present leaders have decided
to move on from their strained past,
say experts. Political scientist Dr KS Nathan, formerly with Singapores Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said bilateral relations had already improved from the time of Mr Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. Dr Nathan said both current Prime Ministers are more pragmatic and dont have the ideological baggage of the past. Malaysia is committed to the future of our relationship with Singapore, to peace, stability and shared prosperity between our nations, Mr Najib said just after the death of Mr Lee was announced earlier this week. Other Malaysian leaders also paid tribute to Mr Lee. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said: Lees unique leadership developed Singapore as a republic. He uplifted Singapore to become a respected city state. Mr Muhyiddin said he got to know Mr Lee personally when he was serving as Johor Chief Minister and found him to be a leader who was firm, visionary and influential in Asia and throughout the world. Lee Kuan Yew is a name closely linked to Malaysia. His demise is felt by people in both countries, he added.
(NEW) 2019 BK Chan, Robin - Chua, Mui Hoong - Han, Fook Kwang - Lee, Kuan Yew - Lim, L - Lee Kuan Yew - Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going (2011 - 2019, Straits Times Press)