They noted that the book was not based on flimsy evidence or written without taking into account the feelings of the minority community, which makes up 15 per cent of the population here.

Speaking to The Sunday Times yesterday, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Information and the Arts) Yatiman Yusof said:

"The fact remains that SM had the access to all the historical materials, especially those released by the British archives after its 30-year restriction.

"So while others may argue that he may not be correct or accurate, it's up to them to prove that their interpretation of history is the acceptable version."

SM Lee's book, The Singapore Story -- Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs, had been criticised by Malaysian leaders as, among other things, a jaundiced and inaccurate account of the events leading up to the separation of Singapore and Malaysia in 1965.

In particular, they took issue with his account of how Umno, the dominant Malay political party then, had tried to whip up sentiments of the Malay community here against the People's Action Party government.

Also noting that the book was based on historical facts, Mr Mohamad Maidin Packer Mohamad, Parliamentary Secretary (Education), told Malay language daily Berita Harian: "The truth always hurts."

He was not surprised at the controversy, he said, because "the formation and shaping of Singapore itself happened in the midst of a tense and controversial environment, especially in the 60s".

Berita Harian also published other views from the Malay community yesterday.

Countering the criticism that SM Lee was insensitive to the Malays, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary (Communications), said that the Senior Minister had asked Malay MPs and Berita Harian editor Guntor Sadali to review the draft of his book.

He said: "SM Lee wanted to see how the Malays would react before the book was published.

"What's important is that the book is SM Lee's special right to write about the history of his life's struggle and is very useful to Singapore."

Likewise, ex-MP Rahmat Kenap, who said that SM Lee's emotional moment last Wednesday was "understandable".

Mr Rahmat noted that SM Lee had shed tears in front of 1,200 guests during his 75th birthday celebration while reminiscing about the Malay MPs' contribution to the PAP cause in the 60s.

"I am proud that he really appreciates the Malay MPs who toiled during that time.

"That was a very critical time for PAP. It was like a question of life and death," he said.

He added that SM Lee had championed the needs of Singapore's Malay/Muslim community many times.

One example was the SM's suggestion to broadcast the Muslim prayer call over the Malay radio station.

Community Development Minister Abdullah Tarmugi told The Sunday Times last night that the Malay community's response to the book had been quite similar to the reaction of the other races here.

"From letters to The Straits Times' forum page and to Berita Harian, you can see that Malay readers are responding as Singaporeans and not as a racial community.

"There is no indication that the book has had any impact on race relations here.

"If anything, it should give each community a better understanding of the Singaporean way of life and why it is important that we should retain our philosophy and principles to maintain our identity."