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Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave a rare acknowledgement of the achievements of Singapore’s octogenarian leader Lee Kuan Yew in a book on the latter.
Launched two days ago, the book titled ““Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew” is written by American columnist Tom Plate, which contains a section containing comments from international leaders about Lee.
Dr Mahathir said Lee will “go down in history as a very remarkable intellectual and politician at the same time.”
“He is a big frog in a small pond. He had ambitions to become Prime Minister of all Malaysia. He tries to lecture people but people dislike that. People do regard him as an intellectual, as something more than just an ordinary politician,” he added.
The two men had often crossed swords with each other during their tenures as Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia.
Lee was Singapore’s Prime Minister from 1965 to 1990 while Dr Mahathir Mohamad led Malaysia from 1981 to 2002.
When Lee visited Malaysia last year, he met several Malaysian leaders including those from the opposition except Dr Mahathir prompting him to write on his blog sarcastically that he is not “important” enough to deserve attention from Singapore’s “little emperor”.
He also poured scorn on Lee’s attempts to teach Malaysian leaders how to govern Malaysia.
Despite their frequent altercations, Dr Mahathir was never sued by Lee for defamation or slander.
In his latest speech, Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress Samy Vellu who has been leading the party for 31 years not to “overstay his welcome” and step down immediately.
His remarks may well apply to Lee who is still the de facto leader of Singapore’s ruling PAP after 50 years.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/05...-a-small-pond/
Launched two days ago, the book titled ““Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew” is written by American columnist Tom Plate, which contains a section containing comments from international leaders about Lee.
Dr Mahathir said Lee will “go down in history as a very remarkable intellectual and politician at the same time.”
“He is a big frog in a small pond. He had ambitions to become Prime Minister of all Malaysia. He tries to lecture people but people dislike that. People do regard him as an intellectual, as something more than just an ordinary politician,” he added.
The two men had often crossed swords with each other during their tenures as Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia.
Lee was Singapore’s Prime Minister from 1965 to 1990 while Dr Mahathir Mohamad led Malaysia from 1981 to 2002.
When Lee visited Malaysia last year, he met several Malaysian leaders including those from the opposition except Dr Mahathir prompting him to write on his blog sarcastically that he is not “important” enough to deserve attention from Singapore’s “little emperor”.
He also poured scorn on Lee’s attempts to teach Malaysian leaders how to govern Malaysia.
Despite their frequent altercations, Dr Mahathir was never sued by Lee for defamation or slander.
In his latest speech, Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged the President of the Malaysian Indian Congress Samy Vellu who has been leading the party for 31 years not to “overstay his welcome” and step down immediately.
His remarks may well apply to Lee who is still the de facto leader of Singapore’s ruling PAP after 50 years.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/05...-a-small-pond/
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