SOME billed the landmark visit of Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to Malaysia as 'a trip down memory lane.' It has been anything but that.

For a start, the Minister Mentor of Singapore is not the sentimental sort, and second, this particular lane in history does not exactly hold pleasant memories for him.

This elder statesman probably left for home on Monday after his eight-day visit armed with insight and perspectives about this country and its politics that no other contemporary leader in Singapore has ever been privileged to have.

He met an array of people from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister to the royal figures and political leaders of several states as well as a string of politicians from both sides of the divide.

'It was really unprecedented. The people he met included the who's who of Malaysian politics,' said one Pakatan Rakyat MP.

And it was all the more curious because it took place without the usual anti-Singapore voices filling the air or showy protests by Umno Youth.

But Mr Lee's crosshairs were on the Pakatan states.He is curious about the new players in these states. As most of those he met noted, Mr Lee arrived very well-informed but he wanted to meet them to fine-tune what he already knew and make his assessment. They had the sense that he wanted to get to know them for 'future purposes' and several of them were invited for more discussion in Singapore.

One of them was Kelantan Mentri Besar Mr Nik Aziz Nik Mat who was savvy enough about Malaysia-Singapore relations to not say yes; he told Mr Lee it would be too tiring for him to make the trip. Yet, Mr Nik Aziz had been to China four times, as Mr Lee pointed out.

The purpose of Mr Lee's visit was to see and hear the political changes that have taken place in Malaysia and to get acquainted with some of the new players.

He is not totally convinced that Pakatan has what it takes for a home run in the next elections; at the same time, he does not intend his country to be caught flat-footed. Underlying all this is the niggling fear that his own citizens may take their politics ala Malaysia. -- THE STAR

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