Gentlemen;
Sorry to have been so quiet lately. Emory, many thanks for posting that Stratfor advisory. I did have it as I do subscribe and had passed it on to some local embassy folks. Its interesting, they always seem to appreciate getting it. I participate in a local ex-pat security advisory committee at the embassy which meets every couple of months. Our job is mostly to assist coordination of a local notice system etc. The embassy urges anyone staying in a foreign country for a length of time beyond the usual stay to register in case of the need to issue advisories or in case evacuation notices arise. In addition, before the embassy can assist in notification of relatives etc. they must have a release signature on file.
In the course of that I occasionally get a chance to chat with embassy staff responsible for security of American nationals. We have chatted about the latest round of sword rattling precipitated by Lee Kuan Yew's scathing comments in his auto biography. It doesn't seem to be especially alarming as Stratfor would have us believe.
The last time things heated up it was because Lee made a remark about how unsafe it was to be in Johor Bahru compared to Singapore. The contextual framework of his remark was that he was testifying in a court action brought against a political opponent. The court action was a criminal suit against a man who had the temerity to accuse Lee and other government officials of lying. The resulting persecution (and prosecution) of this man caused him to flee to Johor across the border. Lee was asked if the man had gone to Johor to escape trial. Lee's remarked he must have, "everyone knows it is unsafe to go to Johor where crime is so bad". Lee is a political lout on one hand and clever on the other. But in any case this was a gaffe as was the comments in his book. He has never lost his anger over being ejected from the Malaysian republic. Just like Mahatir has never gotten over the sins of colonialism I suspect. Both are "old and in the way" IMO.
Singapore and Malaysia have a long history of bickering and back biting. Two cultures that cannot merge their thinking, even after centuries of proximity, is one reason. Political agendas are another. Major differentials in economic development is a third (read-envy/arrogance). And close proximity, set against these reasons aggravates in my opinion.
From my own observations it all seems hopelessly Asian in terms of hubris, arrogance, vanities, and small minded men with outsized egos. I remember reading once that there is no arrogance such as that displayed by the "nouveuax riche". Singapore (and Singaporeans) are guilty of this without doubt. In the 14 years that I have regularly traveled or lived here I have seen a rise in this phenomena and comment knowing full well that I have no data other then my own anecdotal experience tainted by whatever prejudices I carry around in my baggage. Suffice it to say that a trip to Singapore today is a bit like going to New York City in terms of local friendliness and manners. On the other hand Malaysians, and particularly Malay people, can exhibit absolutely behavior that is bizarre to an outsider when it comes to how they handle their enmitys. Witness the current Anwar afair. Bizarre beyond words.
The fact remains that these two countrys need each other. Singapore must have Malaysian air space. malaysia must have Singapore money. In every other respect they seem to want to compete. am sure that the reader can think of other close proximity countrys that mirror the experience here.
By the way, the Stratfor article left out the fact that Mahatir and Goh met this week in a new initiative to work out differences. This always sets off a flurry of incendiary comments from lesser functionarys and newspaper editors. It is almost as if there is an effort to arm there respective leader with insults and petty issues.
Best,
Stitch
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