From The Straits Times, Singapore
9 March 2002
Singapore minister's 'wild animals' remark upsets KL politicians
A week after the comment was made by Dr Balakrishnan here, Umno
politicians vent their anger
By Brendan Pereira
MALAYSIA CORRESPONDENT
KUALA LUMPUR - A remark in jest by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan about
journalists being 'wild animals' has pinched a raw nerve among
Malaysian politicians and the media - nearly a week after the words
were uttered.
At a luncheon hosted for the visiting Barisan Nasional Youth
delegation in Singapore last Saturday, the Young PAP leader noted in
an off the cuff address that he was hurrying along because the 'wild
animals' were waiting to pounce on Barisan Nasional Youth chief Datuk
Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
Mr Abu Talib Alias, head of the Johor Baru Umno Youth division, was in
the audience that day and felt that the comment was being directed at
a group of Malaysian journalists at the back of the hall.
He wants the Minister of State (National Development) to apologise for
his insulting and ill-advised comments.
'His comments were greeted with thunderous applause by the Young PAP
delegation while the Barisan Nasional Youth kept silent.
'Maybe they thought it was a joke but to us it was very insulting,' he
said.
His views carried on the front page of Utusan Malaysia served as a
lightning rod for other Malaysian politicians to vent their anger
against Dr Balakrishnan and Singapore in general.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Rafidah Aziz noted
that 'certain people' in Singapore had made remarks lately which were
intended to 'bring irritation to our bilateral relations'.
If Singapore regarded Malaysia as a good neighbour in Asean, it should
not do or say anything that will irritate its neighbour in the north,
she said.
Also giving his input into the matter was Foreign Minister Datuk Seri
Syed Hamid Albar who said that he hoped relations between the people
and leaders of both countries would be done in a sensitive and
civilised manner.
Singapore and Malaysia had 'enough issues to handle and did not need
to add on more', he added.
Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, the Information Ministry's parliamentary
secretary, chose to interpret Dr Balakrishnan's remarks differently.
The former editor-in-chief of Utusan Malaysia said that those who
labelled Malaysian journalists as 'wild animals' had little
understanding on how journalists operated.
'In Singapore, they are so used to seeing reporters there do their job
the authoritarian way. So it jolted them when they saw reporters here
having easy access to their leaders.
'We do not see reporters crowding around Lee Kuan Yew like in Malaysia
where reporters are free to get close to the Prime Minister,' he
noted.
The situation was a reflection of the security situation in the
country, he added.
BN Youth chief Datuk Hishammuddin, who said that his team's three-day
visit to Singapore was a success, told reporters yesterday that they
should clarify with Dr Balakrishnan about his comments.
Three Umno Youth leaders interviewed by The Straits Times said that
they did not react to the 'wild animals' comments because they thought
that the Young PAP politician was trying to be humorous.
'It was a poor joke, in bad taste but it was a joke,' said a member of
the Malaysian delegation to Singapore.
