The Singapore Story - PressReports




	The Singapore Story was launched on September 16 at Mr Lee's 75th birthday gala dinner. The book was snapped up as soon as it hit stores in Singapore. But in Malaysia, it drew criticism and calls for a ban. Here are key media reports on the launch and the response, and the unhappiness it generated in Malaysia.

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'Great interest' in SM's next book (Feb 22 1999)
Top American scholar Lucian Pye has said in the latest issue of the international affairs journal, Foreign Affairs, that volume two of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs will "command great interest", given the favourable response to the first volume.

Launch and response

Remembering the past, planning for the future
In his speech at his birthday dinner, Mr Lee spoke of his reasons for writing his memoirs, the challenges that faced Singapore during its formative years and those that face the current leaders. Here is his speech in full.

Moving tribute at a glittering occasion

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Many happy returns Mr Lee and his wife Geok Choo at his 75th bithday gala dinner and book launch that was attended by 1,200 guests. Picture by George Gascon

The Senior Minister lauds those who fought alongside him and gives PM Goh and his team a vote of confidence.
Cheers, toasts and a mural gift
It was a birthday party like no other. There was a cake, candles and the birthday gift.
Singaporeans send greetings through radio
Birthday greetings for Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew poured into radio stations yesterday, with listeners wishing him good health and long life on his 75th birthday.
The night SM's tears moved the crowds
SM Lee sheds tears recalling staunch support of early Malay PAP comrades for his vision of a multiracial country.
SM Lee's memoirs raise over $2m
More than 200 copies of the special limited edition of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs have been sold, ahead of its launch.
Volume Two to be published next year
The second part of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs is likely to be published in September or October next year.
SM's memoirs all sold out
The first 35,000 copies of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs appear to have all but vanished from the shelves, with stores already taking orders for the second print run.
SM's memoirs sold out in Asia
The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew has become a sell-out hit across Asia, in less than a month.
Memoirs grab world attention
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs have received widespread coverage in the international and regional press.
SM Lee's book snapped up at Beijing launch
Organisers had to set a limit, with many Chinese asking Singaporeans where they can get more copies.
Royalties will go to education in China and Singapore
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew is donating royalties from sales of the China edition of his memoirs to educational causes in China and Singapore.

Criticism in Malaysia

S'pore out to undermine KL, says Mahathir
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad said if Singapore continued to undermine Malaysia, he would release details of attempts by the Republic to undermine Malaysia's economy and political activities.
Tun Razak's son 'hurt' by memoirs
Education Minister Najib Tun Razak expressed regret that Mr Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs contain allegations against his father, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, and others who have died.
Malaysian politicians decry SM Lee's memoirs
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's claim in his memoirs that Malaysia had used "bullying and intimidation" during the two countries' brief federation was a manipulation of history.
KL leader 'tired of SM's apologies'
MALAYSIAN Defence Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, whose father was named in Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs as a key figure who inflamed racial passions here in the 60s, said he was tired of SM Lee's apologies.
SM Lee 'trying to fan racial dissatisfaction'
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's Defence Minister Syed Hamid Albar has accused Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew of manipulating history in his memoirs, Malaysian newspapers reported.
Call for memoirs to be banned in Malaysia
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs should be banned in Malaysia because they would poison the mind of a younger generation of Malaysians, Johor state executive councillor Jimmy Low has suggested.
Timing of memoirs uncanny, says Ling
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Chinese Association president Ling Liong Sik said it was "uncanny" that Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs were being released at a time when journalists from 70 English-speaking nations were in Malaysia to cover the Commonwealth Games.

Historian takes issue with SM's memoirs
University of Malaya historian Professor Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim has said that "rash interpretation of historical fact" by Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew would worsen already strained relations.
Riots sparked off by a Chinese, say Malaysians
Two high-level Malaysians argue that the 1964 race riots were started by a Chinese, who had flung a bottle from the first floor of a shop and hit a Malay.

SM responds to Mahathir's criticisms
SENIOR Minister Lee Kuan Yew dismissed Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad's allegation that he was publishing his memoirs now to take advantage of Malaysia's difficulties.

Malay community defends SM's book
It was neither based on flimsy evidence nor written insensitively, say leaders of the Malay community here.
Countering the criticism: In SM's defence
Personal experiences from Malay Singaporeans.
SM 'took pains to be sensitive to Malays'
But his memoirs would have been false if he misrepresented history just to please the Malays, said journalist.
Malay S'poreans support SM's book
Those interviewed urge fellow Malays to look at the facts and react rationally; and learn from history.

"I did not write an official history of Singapore. It is my account of what I did, why I did it, and about the people who worked with me or against me."
- Mr Lee on his memoirs.

Pains taken to ensure accuracy
If there are false or untrue statements, he stands contradicted and his credibility is demolished, says SM Lee of his memoirs.
SM took in views of 65 people for his book
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew devoted three pages to thank those who had helped with The Singapore Story.
FAST-ACTING: SM open to suggestions
Journalists, editors and publishers comment on the book's creation process and its importance.

UK scholar gives corroboration
AN ACADEMIC article written by a British scholar in October 1964 corroborates Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's argument.