Singapore PM hopes to ‘catch up’ with Dr M ‘very soon’
SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hopes to ‘catch up’ with his new Malaysian counterpart Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ‘very soon’.
In its latest Facebook posting, Lee said he had called Dr Mahathir yesterday morning to congratulate him on being appointed Prime Minister.
“He was busy meeting people for his Cabinet appointments! I wished him and his Government all the best and hope to catch up with him in person very soon either in KL or in Singapore,” wrote Lee and ended his posting with his initials LHL.
His posting was appended with a photo of him with Dr Mahathir at the Hari Raya Open House in Johor Bahru in December 2001, almost 20 years ago.
Pakatan Harapan led by Dr Mahathir won Malaysia’s 14th General Election Wednesday.
He has sworn in as Malaysia’s 7th Prime Minister the next day.
From the posting, Singaporeans shared cordial sentiments, hoping for closer relationship with Malaysians.
“Looking forward to more and better initiatives between the two countries in the near future,” commented Taury Chen on Lee’s posting.
Lim Kay Hwan, another follower, meanwhile, commented on the photo shared by the prime minister.
“A good historical clip 20 years ago .. to remind both of them their friendship meeting.
“Moving forward let’s hope they move on for the betterment of both countries separated only by geography,” wrote Lim.
Meanwhile, the current political development in Malaysia has also attracted the attention of Goh Chok Tong, Singapore’s second Prime Minister, who succeeded the city- state’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew.
“Watching Dr Mahathir fight Malaysian GE14 reminds me of Lee Kuan Yew who famously said, “Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.”
“One must salute Dr Mahathir for his indomitable will and energy to right what he thinks is wrong with his country,” he wrote in his Facebook on Thursday.
Goh said Dr Mahathir and his coalition partners scored a stunning victory.
“Congratulations to them on their success, and to (Dr) Mahathir on becoming the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the second time,” he wrote further.
Goh noted that “whatever happens on one side of the Causeway affects the other.”
“This is a historic and unprecedented moment for our closest neighbour. We wish them well and success, and offer Dr Mahathir and the new government our continued goodwill and friendship,” he wrote and ended it with his initial GCT.
Goh served as Singapore’s second Prime Minister for 14 years, from 1990 to 2004. — Bernama