The headscarves ban

The ban on the wearing of headscarves by female high school and university students in Singapore has finally led to an international diplomatic row. As has been widely reported, two Muslim Malay students were barred from attending school for violating a ruling forbidding the wearing of headscarves, which are considered religious symbols.

A third student, Khairiah Faroukh, aged 6, was barred from school on Monday for not complying with school regulations forbidding the wearing of headscarves. She left school minutes after entering the compound, holding her father's hand, Reuters news agency reported.

The Singapore government's position is that allowing the headscarves "would harm national unity by highlighting racial differences". One could add that racial differences in Singapore are almost synonymous with religious differences, meaning that only girls from Muslim families would wear headscarves in public places.

Malay Muslims account for about 15 percent of Singapore's 4 million people. The majority ethnic Chinese Buddhists and Christians comprise some 80 percent of the population, and ethnic Indian Hindus make up most of the remainder. The male Sikh population, who are part of the Indian community in Singapore, and who wear their traditional headgear are apparently not considered to potentially endanger the national unity of Singapore.

What concerns us regarding this ban on Malay Muslim students wearing headscarves to school is that it has caused such an intense reaction in neighboring Malaysia, not only among society leaders, but also in official circles, as expressed by some government officials.

Malaysia's Deputy Education Minister Abdul Azis Shamsuddin appealed to the Singapore authorities to review the policy regarding the banning of scarves for students. As was to be expected, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by reminding its Malaysian counterparts not to interfere in the island state's internal affairs.

However, it is quite likely there will be further reactions to this ban, not only in Malaysia among both religious leaders and government officials, but in other neighboring countries as well, including Singapore's partners in ASEAN, where more critical reaction against the measure can be expected. Simply saying that it is purely an internal affair of Singapore does not easily solve the matter.

The problem is that this seemingly insignificant incident has exposed the mind-set of people in Singapore's neighboring countries. There is a kind of deep-seated envy that has developed among Singapore's neighbors, which so far has been smoldering under the surface and has been covered up for the sake of ASEAN solidarity.

There is a strong feeling, most probably unjustified, that Singapore has managed to reap the best of all worlds. Because of its granting of docking facilities to U.S. vessels, including its huge aircraft carriers since September 11, Singapore has enjoyed informally special protection from U.S. security agencies. This is particularly true after recent revelations that, apparently, elements believed to have connections with the al-Qaeda terrorist organization were at one time operating in Singapore.

In the areas of economy and trade, Singapore also seems to have been able to use the opportunity that has arisen in the wake of the 1997 monetary crisis. The Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement for a New Partnership, signed last month during the visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, provides Singapore with special trading facilities for entering the Japanese market.

Of course, countries such as Indonesia will eventually benefit from that agreement as a side impact. The point that we want to stress is that Singapore's advantageous position in Southeast Asia, no doubt achieved through hard work and smart planning, has created a certain psychological gap between it and some of its neighbors. The banning of headscarves for students could develop unintentionally into a more serious issue because of its religious overtones.

That is why we appeal to the Singapore government to handle this issue with the utmost wisdom and statesmanship. It would not be in the interests of our region, nor that of Singapore- Indonesia relations, nor in Singapore's own national interest if this issue were to blossom into a full scale row.

After all, it is in Indonesia's interest, and we presume also that of the region, that Singapore remain a modern and stable center for science and technology, banking and business, a transportation hub and center of comprehensive information -- a Singapore that constantly displays its empathy with the region and is sensitive to the social and religious views of its neighboring countries.