Comments by MFA Spokesman on New Straits Times (17 Feb 03) and Bernama (16 Feb 03) Reports

Asked to comment on the New Straits Times report of 17 February 2003 that quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid as claiming "I was there when Lee Kuan Yew told Dr Mahathir that Goh Chok Tong opposed the plan [to build a bridge] because he was nostalgic about the Causeway" and the Bernama report of 16 February 2003 that quoted Foreign Minister Syed Hamid as saying "What was being told by Dr Mahathir was not nonsensical. He was talking about a true incident and it was his recollection, which I myself can vouch for", the MFA Spokesman said:

"This is all very mysterious. Dr Mahathir said in Johor that his meeting with SM Lee was a four-eye meeting (Bernama, 14 February 2003). Bernama on 16 February also reported Syed Hamid himself as saying Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew had told Dr Mahathir this during a four-eye meeting. A four-eye meeting means only Dr Mahathir and Senior Minister Lee were present. In a four-eye meeting, three's a crowd. So how could Foreign Minister Syed Hamid have been there to vouch for Dr Mahathir?"

"Anyway, it's difficult to take such statements seriously. Foreign Minister Syed Hamid has also claimed that the bridge was never part of the package. But on 5 October 2000, Berita Harian (Malaysia) reported Syed Hamid himself as saying that the package also included the proposal to build a second bridge in place of the Causeway. And on 4 March 2002, Dr Mahathir wrote to Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on what Dr Mahathir described as "Malaysia's proposals on the package of issues". The second item was the bridge to replace the Causeway. This letter is now part of the public record. So Foreign Minister Syed Hamid has been contradicted by none other than his own Prime Minister's letter."

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 FEBRUARY 2003