What reunification?

Given that Malaysia and Singapore are unlikely to be reunited in the foreseeable future, any discussion of the subject must be seen purely as an academic exercise. Still, debate between the two countries has raised two interesting questions.

One regards the role Singapore should aim for now that its neighboring countries, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, have developed their own trade and financial facilities. The second concerns Malaysia and when it will end its affirmative action policy in favor of the bumiputra, the ethnic Malays who account for nearly half of its population.

The first question is something that Singaporeans will have to answer, and the second is for the Malaysians to deal with.

Unfortunately, the debate has veered out of its academic sphere and become a contentious issue that could threaten relations between the two countries. Events in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur over the past few days indicate that the issue is boiling over into a diplomatic row.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi on Monday called Singapore High Commissioner Low Choon Ming into his office and also spoke by telephone with Singaporean counterpart S. Jayakumar to convey Kuala Lumpur's stand. Yesterday, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) demanded that Singaporean leaders stop making "sensitive remarks" that could jeopardize bilateral relations. On Friday, Mahathir in his capacity as UMNO president, accused Singapore's leaders of using Malaysia as "the bogeyman" to scare Singaporeans, and said that UMNO was offended by this.

Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who is expected to call a general election soon, has denied the accusation and stressed that reunification is not on his agenda. Yet, in a speech last month, he said the prosperous island might in the future be forced to seek a reunion with Malaysia on Kuala Lumpur's terms if Singapore loses its economic edge.

What apparently offended UMNO the most was Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan's remark last week that the Singaporeans' rejection of a re-merger showed "they feel strongly that the republic should be a harmonious multiracial society with meritocracy as its guiding principle."

That the debate has touched a raw nerve is understandable, especially since it involves the politically and emotionally sensitive question of race relations.

In the 31 years since their separation, Malaysia and Singapore managed to bury their differences as each pursued its own path to development. They have been able to cooperate bilaterally and through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

So successful has each nation been in development that reunion isn't likely to be in the minds of either their leaders or their people. One Malaysian scholar suggested that reunification is at least 300 years away.

Interestingly, the debate was started by Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew, who was prime minister of the republic at the time of separation. In a speech in June, Lee warned Singaporeans against complacency lest the republic lose its competitive edge, in which case, he said Singapore might as well ask Malaysia to take it back. He added that the two countries could be reunited once Malaysia starts practicing meritocracy.

Given that the situation has now taken a turn for the worse, perhaps it is wise to heed the call for restraint when addressing the subject. The last thing we want is renewed tension in the region over something that is not likely to happen soon, and not even on anyone's agenda. The debate, however, will never completely be brought to a close until the two questions are answered by the peoples of Singapore and Malaysia.