MALAYSIA DID NOT OVERWELCOME LEE KUAN YEW

PUTRAJAYA, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia did not overwelcome Singapore
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during his eight-day visit to the country, early
this month, said Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said Lee was not accorded more than what he deserved.

"I don't think we gave him more than (what) he deserved," he told reporters
after opening the 7th Heads of Mission Conference at the Putrajaya International
Convention Centre here Monday.

He said this when answering a question on whether Malaysia had overwelcomed
the minister mentor.

Najib said he did not think Lee wanted to interfere in the country's
internal affairs when the latter made some comments.

"I don't think so...(that) he wanted to interfere. I think he knows that any
suggestion that he is trying to interfere would be counter-productive.

"His visit was for a fact-finding tour of the situation in Malaysia. We
allowed it," added the prime minister.

On whether Lee's comment that Penang's development was way behind Perak,
could be seen as insinuating, Najib said:

"He made a few comments and overall, he wants to see Malaysia succeed, a
stable Malaysia. That is most important.

"How he does it, is a style of the man and I think we have to recognise
every person as being different."

Lee had an audience with King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin
and Sultan Azlan Shah, the Ruler of Perak, as well as met Najib and Deputy Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during the visit which began on June 9.

He also visited several states in Peninsular Malaysia namely Negeri Sembilan
(southern), Perak, Penang,(both northern states), and two east coast states --
Kelantan and Pahang.


-- BERNAMA