Malaysia, Singapore should end discord

Malaysia's Acting Foreign Minister, Abang Abu Bakar Mustapha, has denied his government is to freeze bilateral relations with Singapore. He conceded that Malaysian-Singaporean relations were discussed in a cabinet meeting Wednesday, but said the outcome was not as reported by the media.

We take a breath of relief on reading the official statement issued by the government of Malaysia, with whom we not only have good neighborly relations, but are also cooperating in the context of ASEAN. We can understand that the air has not yet been entirely cleared and that some implications remain. But, in spite of this, the latitude for preventing the situation from deteriorating further and to gradually restore normal bilateral relations seems to remain widely open and will stay that way.

The problem is actually one between the former Singaporean Prime Minister (Lee Kuan Yew) and his compatriot, the opposition leader Tan Lian Hong, who is being charged with slander. In a testimony in court, Lee made remarks about the Malaysian state of Johor, where his political adversary is at the moment staying. The Malaysians considered his remarks derogatory.

The point we would like to underscore is that history and proximity have ordained that relations between Malaysia and Singapore cannot be just normal relations such as those that exist between most other countries. They are much more closely intertwined.

It is possible that the situation will be more damaging to Singapore if the present incident develops further and gets out of hand. Malaysia, however, will also be in a difficult situation.

The best thing to do, therefore, is to contain the incident -- and it is probably in this direction that the two countries will be moving. Lee Kuan Yew's apology can become the starting point for restoring relations, although this may take time. At the same time it is to be hoped that other leaders in Singapore can follow in the same spirit.

It is fortunate that there is cooperation within ASEAN.

--Kompas, Jakarta