Singapore’s Minister Mentor, the former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew when asked recently to comment on criticism in the United States of the so-called Jewish lobby , described it “a festering sore”, “ a cancer in the international system” that the United States ought to have removed.
Lee suggested that this was one way to ensure that Muslims world-wide were at least partially appeased.(http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=79541)
These comments were made despite the ongoing collaboration between Singapore and Israel, particularly in the defence area. Singapore also has strong defence ties with the US.It has always been assumed that Singapore is a natural ally of the US in combatting terrorism.
Meanwhile Singapore’s DBS Bank Holdings Ltd, which is controlled by the Singapore Government investment agency Temasek, has entered into a partnership with a number of Gulf state investment agencies and families to establish the Islamic Bank of Asia(IB Asia). Lee’s second son Lee Hsien Yang, former Chief Executive Officer of the SingTel Group,is a director of the bank, his appointment suggesting that this an investment of great strategic interest to Singapore and Lee.
The bank’s Arab shareholders reads like a who’s who of the gulf’s political and business elite.
Perhaps most important among them is Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud & Sons Group Holding Co. This is an investment company controlled by Prince Talal ibn Abdel Aziz , who is half brother of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and 23rd son of Abdul Aziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. He once served as Saudi finance minister and is a member of Suadi Royal Family council. He is father to Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Saud, one of the world’s richest men. (http://www.ameinfo.com/119522.html)
The Al-Saud’s position on Israel is quite clear:King Abduallah remains opposed to American support for Israel ,as well as Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
It appears that Lee now speaks for new found friends amongst the ruling elite of the Middle East.
This new allegiance raises questions about the reliance that should be placed on Singapore as an effective partner in combating the flow of terrorist financing.
The Singapore Government already has a reputation for collaborating with the Myanmar junta( see http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ed28a024-7112-11dc-98fc-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=6a365390-7032-11dc-a6d1-0000779fd2ac.html AND http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/singapore-a-friend-indeed-to-burma/2007/09/30/1191090945019.html)
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Posted by: Nick Matyas | January 07, 2010 at 01:37