THE TEMASEK REVIEW

By Brian Yap from The Malaysian Insider

For all our silly posturing and lame jokes about one another, only those blinded by knee-jerk nationalism can deny that Malaysia and Singapore are inextricably linked.

Our ties go deeper than the fact that we both find Phua Chu Kang funny (well, some of us do, anyway), and certainly deeper than the fact that both nations lived under the rule of strongmen with a Machiavellian streak marketed as “Asian values.”

As the man who shaped modern Singapore makes his way through Malaysia on an eight-day visit, the often prickly relations between the governments of both countries once again enters the public consciousness.

So far, the visit has been a cordial one, with both guests and hosts being pleasantly gracious to each other.

For too long, history has defined the Malaysia-Singapore relationship, often at the expense of both our nations’ present and future interests. The governments of both countries often seem bent on viewing their relationship through a prism of the past.

But this is 2009, not 1965. While Lee still looms large over the island state, the man is now 85 years old. Both Malaysia, Singapore and the world at large have evolved and changed in myriad ways since the Separation.

This is not a call to let bygones be bygones, nor am I naively asking for everyone to hold hands and sing “Rasa Sayang”.

But surely it is not unreasonable for both sides to acknowledge that our divergent post-1965 paths can offer invaluable lessons for one another.

A competitive spirit between Malaysia and Singapore might have spurred progress on both sides of the Causeway, but even competitors can form a relationship of mutual benefit and shared knowledge.

After all, there’s much we can learn from Singapore. When the Selangor government decided to rehabilitate the Klang river, it sensibly approached the Singaporean government, which boasts a successful experience in cleaning up the Singapore River and Kallang Basin.

It is also in Singapore where vernacular schools were all streamlined into a national system, which remains an issue of contention here.

For many reasons  –  some understandable, some just downright childish – some Malaysians view with disdain the idea that Singapore is successful in many areas that we aren’t. (I can hear it coming already – “You like it so much, why don’t you move there?”)

From public infrastructure to education, anti-corruption measures to urban planning, there’s no shame in admitting that the island down south can teach us a thing or two.

It is not a mark of confidence to dismiss the achievements of others, but rather, a reflection of our own insecurity.

Conversely, Lee and his entourage can also learn a lot from us. As they make their way through several states in West Malaysia, the results of March 8 must surely be on the forefront of their minds.

In fact, it is probably safe to assume that the shifting political landscape is a big reason for the trip. After all, the political figures on Lee’s to-meet list include top PAS and DAP leaders. Even Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who doesn’t hold a position in any government, is on the list.

Just like Malaysia has plenty to learn from Singapore, the opposite is also true. Both the PAP and BN have maintained their grip on power using authoritarian measures, demonising, jailing and suing opposing voices to silence them. We had Operasi Lalang, they had Operation Spectrum.

For all of my criticism of the federal government, and for all the ways in which it abuses its power, it would be dishonest not to acknowledge that Malaysians enjoy more political freedom than Singaporeans do.

Of course, part of the reason is undoubtedly the determination of many Malaysians who have sacrificed much to push for more open political space.

Still, I’ve always joked that if I lived down south, I would probably have long ended up in prison for one reason or another. So far, that hasn’t happened to me here. Yet.

It would be tragic if the lesson Lee takes home from his visit here is how Singapore can benefit from Malaysia’s inevitably chaotic transition to a two-coalition system.

Or that his PAP government must further curtail the political rights of its citizens to prevent even the remotest likelihood of a similar scenario in Singapore.

Instead, I hope he leaves Malaysia with the realisation that economic development can only postpone the inevitable desire of people to speak their minds.

That a greater sense of participation in the political process only serves to strengthen the bond between a citizen and his or her nation, which in turn will only strengthen Singapore, not weaken it.

One other thing I hope he leaves Malaysia with is the realisation that, while race remains a potent defining force here, many Malaysians have come to the realisation that our future lies in moving beyond the narrow confines of communal politics.

In other words, if he wanted to get a better understanding of the welfare of Chinese Malaysians, he would be better off talking to the political parties they overwhelmingly voted for. Hint … it’s not the MCA.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

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