'MM's comments reflect reality in M'sia'
Doyen of Chinese-language education says issue was avoided by Chinese parties
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/144617.asp

KUALA LUMPUR — Comments made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a forum last week reflected the reality in Malaysia — but it was an issue the Chinese parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition did not dare bring up, said Malaysia's doyen of Chinese-language education Shen Muyu.
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Mr Shen said the country's ethnic Chinese should thank Mr Lee for his comments that the "Chinese are being marginalised" in Malaysia, Singapore's Chinese- language Zaobao reported yesterday citing an interview with the Chinese-language China Press.
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Answering a question at a forum in Singapore last week, Mr Lee had reportedly said it was vital for the Republic to stand up to Malaysia and Indonesia.
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He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore had been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.
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Mr Shen said there were a number of policies that were disadvantageous to non-bumiputras but this was something the Chinese were afraid to talk about and silently acquiesced to.
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What Mr Lee said reflected the feelings of Malaysia's Chinese, he added.
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Mr Shen said the response of the Chinese leaders within Malaysia's ruling coalition to Mr Lee's remarks did not "come from the heart".
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Mr Shen urged the Malaysian government to treat all races alike, saying that both bumiputras and non-bumiputras pay taxes and contribute to the well-being of the country.
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The presence of a quota system with respect to a number of government policies, as well as the policy of not allowing the creation of new Chinese-language primary schools, are evidence that the Chinese were being marginalised, he added.
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Speaking to the Chinese-language Nanyang Siang Pau, Mr Shen said Malaysia's Chinese should take up on what MM Lee had said and make their views heard through proper channels, Zaobao reported.
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In a poll on blogsite MonsterBlog, hosted by Malaysia's New Straits Times, 42 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Lee that Chinese in Malaysia were marginalised, 18 per cent disagreed, while the rest had other opinions, according to a report by Nanyang.com.
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Malaysian government leaders have criticised Mr Lee's comments; Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday that his words were "very dangerous" and could amount to "instigation".
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"I will write to him and seek clarification why he had said it," media reports quoted Mr Abdullah as saying.
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"This act is not fair at all, made by a leader of our neighbouring country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew should have understood that our relations with Singapore must always be nurtured with care.
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"He would want stability on our side because if we are not stable, Singapore will face problems because of its many interests here."
Doyen of Chinese-language education says issue was avoided by Chinese parties

KUALA LUMPUR — Comments made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a forum last week reflected the reality in Malaysia — but it was an issue the Chinese parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition did not dare bring up, said Malaysia's doyen of Chinese-language education Shen Muyu.
.
Mr Shen said the country's ethnic Chinese should thank Mr Lee for his comments that the "Chinese are being marginalised" in Malaysia, Singapore's Chinese- language Zaobao reported yesterday citing an interview with the Chinese-language China Press.
.
Answering a question at a forum in Singapore last week, Mr Lee had reportedly said it was vital for the Republic to stand up to Malaysia and Indonesia.
.
He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore had been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.
.
Mr Shen said there were a number of policies that were disadvantageous to non-bumiputras but this was something the Chinese were afraid to talk about and silently acquiesced to.
.
What Mr Lee said reflected the feelings of Malaysia's Chinese, he added.
.
Mr Shen said the response of the Chinese leaders within Malaysia's ruling coalition to Mr Lee's remarks did not "come from the heart".
.
Mr Shen urged the Malaysian government to treat all races alike, saying that both bumiputras and non-bumiputras pay taxes and contribute to the well-being of the country.
.
The presence of a quota system with respect to a number of government policies, as well as the policy of not allowing the creation of new Chinese-language primary schools, are evidence that the Chinese were being marginalised, he added.
.
Speaking to the Chinese-language Nanyang Siang Pau, Mr Shen said Malaysia's Chinese should take up on what MM Lee had said and make their views heard through proper channels, Zaobao reported.
.
In a poll on blogsite MonsterBlog, hosted by Malaysia's New Straits Times, 42 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Lee that Chinese in Malaysia were marginalised, 18 per cent disagreed, while the rest had other opinions, according to a report by Nanyang.com.
.
Malaysian government leaders have criticised Mr Lee's comments; Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday that his words were "very dangerous" and could amount to "instigation".
.
"I will write to him and seek clarification why he had said it," media reports quoted Mr Abdullah as saying.
.
"This act is not fair at all, made by a leader of our neighbouring country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew should have understood that our relations with Singapore must always be nurtured with care.
.
"He would want stability on our side because if we are not stable, Singapore will face problems because of its many interests here." Doyen of Chinese-language education says issue was avoided by Chinese parties

KUALA LUMPUR — Comments made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a forum last week reflected the reality in Malaysia — but it was an issue the Chinese parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition did not dare bring up, said Malaysia's doyen of Chinese-language education Shen Muyu.
.
Mr Shen said the country's ethnic Chinese should thank Mr Lee for his comments that the "Chinese are being marginalised" in Malaysia, Singapore's Chinese- language Zaobao reported yesterday citing an interview with the Chinese-language China Press.
.
Answering a question at a forum in Singapore last week, Mr Lee had reportedly said it was vital for the Republic to stand up to Malaysia and Indonesia.
.
He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore had been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.
.
Mr Shen said there were a number of policies that were disadvantageous to non-bumiputras but this was something the Chinese were afraid to talk about and silently acquiesced to.
.
What Mr Lee said reflected the feelings of Malaysia's Chinese, he added.
.
Mr Shen said the response of the Chinese leaders within Malaysia's ruling coalition to Mr Lee's remarks did not "come from the heart".
.
Mr Shen urged the Malaysian government to treat all races alike, saying that both bumiputras and non-bumiputras pay taxes and contribute to the well-being of the country.
.
The presence of a quota system with respect to a number of government policies, as well as the policy of not allowing the creation of new Chinese-language primary schools, are evidence that the Chinese were being marginalised, he added.
.
Speaking to the Chinese-language Nanyang Siang Pau, Mr Shen said Malaysia's Chinese should take up on what MM Lee had said and make their views heard through proper channels, Zaobao reported.
.
In a poll on blogsite MonsterBlog, hosted by Malaysia's New Straits Times, 42 per cent of respondents agreed with Mr Lee that Chinese in Malaysia were marginalised, 18 per cent disagreed, while the rest had other opinions, according to a report by Nanyang.com.
.
Malaysian government leaders have criticised Mr Lee's comments; Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Saturday that his words were "very dangerous" and could amount to "instigation".
.
"I will write to him and seek clarification why he had said it," media reports quoted Mr Abdullah as saying.
.
"This act is not fair at all, made by a leader of our neighbouring country. Mr Lee Kuan Yew should have understood that our relations with Singapore must always be nurtured with care.
.
"He would want stability on our side because if we are not stable, Singapore will face problems because of its many interests here." Doyen of Chinese-language education says issue was avoided by Chinese parties

KUALA LUMPUR — Comments made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at a forum last week reflected the reality in Malaysia — but it was an issue the Chinese parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition did not dare bring up, said Malaysia's doyen of Chinese-language education Shen Muyu.
.
Mr Shen said the country's ethnic Chinese should thank Mr Lee for his comments that the "Chinese are being marginalised" in Malaysia, Singapore's Chinese- language Zaobao reported yesterday citing an interview with the Chinese-language China Press.
.
Answering a question at a forum in Singapore last week, Mr Lee had reportedly said it was vital for the Republic to stand up to Malaysia and Indonesia.
.
He said the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore had been shaped by the way the countries treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.
.
Mr Shen said there were a number of policies that were disadvantageous to non-bumiputras but this was something the Chinese were afraid to talk about and silently acquiesced to.
.
What Mr Lee said reflected the feelings of Malaysia's Chinese, he added.
.
Mr Shen said the response of the Chinese leaders within Malaysia's ruling coalition to Mr Lee's remarks did not "come from the heart".
.
Mr Shen urged the Malaysian government to treat all races alike, saying that both bumiputras and non-bumiputras pay taxes and contribute to the well-being of the country.
.