Senior Minister Lee's trip to Malaysia a key maker<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's stay in Malaysia,
\nwhich he wished could have lasted longer, accomplished rather
\nmore than was expected of a trip billed as a refresher. He is
\nwalking history: The surviving Singaporean link between the
\ntumultuous 1960s days before and after merger, and the
\ndevelopment era when the two countries diverged markedly, each
\nresponding to different stimuli.<\/p>\n
At the back of people's minds would be two questions: Could he
\nand Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad settle once and for all the
\noutstanding issues -- principally on water supply, but also, the
\nstatus of Malayan 1 Railway land and West Malaysians' CPF money?
\nWould there follow a substantive improvement in relations, easy
\nand relaxed, such that they could not be buffeted by the
\noccasional gale over assumed intrusions into Johor and the like?<\/p>\n
On the first point, all the nuanced remarks heard from Lee
\nhave been encouraging. He left the distinct impression that
\nblockages were on the way to being cleared, whereupon compromise
\nwould be possible to bring about a resolution that would meet the
\nneeds of both sides.<\/p>\n
If, indeed, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Dr Mahathir do
\nmeet in two or three months' time, one could presume the
\n\"stalemate\" Lee mentioned would have been broken. He was careful
\nto say, before the trip, that he did not want to raise
\nexpectations unduly. In similar vein, the Malaysian Foreign
\nMinister said it would be wonderful if the visit brought results.<\/p>\n
In the circumstances, Lee's reference to \"two, three months\"
\nas a possible time-frame for the prime ministers' meeting had to
\nbe significant. If this bears out, there could be no better start
\nto the millennium for Singaporeans -- certainly if water supply
\nwas no longer subject to the vagaries of the political climate.<\/p>\n
On bilateral ties, it is harder to judge whether an agreement
\non those issues alone, while definitely a boon, can be
\ncharacterized as bedrock. Water is a Singaporean concern, and
\nwith good reason. Malaysians may not quite see the issue in
\nsimilar vein. They have to climb into a Singaporean mind on this
\nmatter to engage effectively.<\/p>\n
Singaporeans, conversely, might find it difficult to
\ncomprehend why Malaysians keep making arched references to the
\nRepublic's defense spending. Malaysians see no compelling reason
\nwhy a country flush with cash is reluctant to release their
\nreturnees' CPF monies. And so forth. These affect surface
\ntension, but need greater effort be expended on both sides to
\ndevelop an easy, folksy relationship?<\/p>\n
Ties of kinship, which both sides subscribe freely to on
\naccount of a common history, have to be rooted in nobler virtues:
\ntrust, empathy, respect, accommodation, a willingness to listen,
\na mutually-reinforcing humility.<\/p>\n
Despite the commonalities that bind the neighbors, it is more
\npertinent to acknowledge that the two countries have drifted
\napart in the past three decades, as each sought its own identity
\nbased on differing world views.<\/p>\n
Lee's important visit can be a marker to a closer convergence.
\nHe spoke of the need for younger politicians to engage each
\nother. It is not new, but a helpful step. Here's a thought: key
\nministries on both sides (foreign affairs, defense, education,
\nfinance, trade, information) should alternate holding annual
\ngames. There can be a bilateral ministerial forum for each,
\nbesides the mechanism of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations. And it will help if more Singaporeans see much more of
\nMalaysia beyond the lower half of Johor.<\/p>\n
-- The Straits Times \/ Asia News Network<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/senior-minister-lees-trip-to-malaysia-a-key-maker-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }