" When discussing about Singapore or Malaysia during the period of WWII cannot be done in isolation as redbean is right to say that these two nations were not yet born. But the seed of identity was on the way being defined as early as the late 19 century by scholars such as paranakan chinese Dr Lim Boon Keng and company. The final chapter is still being written today perhaps of a nanyang identity. The fact remains that malaysia and singapore shared a heritage of being colonies of Great Britain. Malaysia and Singapore was and is part of a culture and system we inherited and still evolving in our separate way. Part manufactured, part reality, a narrative that binds us, chinese, malays (malaysian and indonesian race), indians, eurasians and minorities from the former crown colonies (eg. burmese, hongkongers, sri langka, etc). Today, the nanyang-singapore-malaya identity is still being written and evolving. The works of our late Kuo Pao Kun and Liu Kang were attempts propelled by their most inner feelings for a people and country they have adopted and come to love. Nationhood have been forged, both Malaysia (1959)and Singapore (1965). We are so young ! Today in the tumultuous sea change of uncertainty especially in the asia pacific, perhaps self-preservation compel us to think more of cooperation and seek the ties that bind us in the local, regional and global polity. ASEAN? Still haven't break yet... thankful. A food for thought that the 5PDA next be evolved and expand in its role post sukarno."
April 02, 2012 1:26 PM
 |
| 5DPA |
