From time to time Singaporeans need to be reminded of this. As Anon 12:44 said ties are improving and we don't mention things that are potentially detrimental to rouse up emotions, but nevertheless... the strategic balance are quite constant till now but will change with the introduction of China. There is Singapore and there are Chinese Malaysians and Chinese Indonesians. The equations get complex with the rise of China. The best thing that happened in 1965 was the separation. Adhering to the principle of not saying to much into the open, the final analysis is that at the end of the day, we Singaporeans can only rely on ourselves, Singaporean Malay, Singaporean Chinese, Singaporean Indian and Singaporean Eurasian. There are only 3 million of us. Not many.
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| We are Singaporeans ! |
i must add to my 9:41, Singaporean Chinese ARE Singaporeans. We are NOT China Chinese. I want to stop here but feel compel to also mention that how about the feelings of Malaysian Chinese and Indonesian Chinese (of more relevance and importance would be Malaysian Chinese as they make up a greater proportion of the Malaysian population as compared to the Indonesian Chinese)? Impending identity crisis? What i want to add also is that you know, i think Dr Mahathir's ideal of an affirmative policy is sound in the beginning. Who will take care of the Malays if not the Malaysian gov? Who in this world is a Malay? Nobody except the Malays! But as a result of this policy, they neglected their non bumi citizens. Cronyism and corruption seeps in ...
Can we let go of this baggage? We are now two sovereign states, one Malay centred and the other, well, "Chinese", "Multiracial", "Meritocracy", chose-one-of-the-slogan centred. The best thing that happened in 1965 was the separation. It is inevitable that misunderstandings arise from time to time. It is good we have our respective countries, to "retreat" to, to cool down and engage when tempers are not flared.
一山不容二虎.
A recent visit to an Army museum in Malaysia, i am convince that Singapore and Malaysia cannot merge any time in the foreseeable.
Nevertheless, one is reminded of a not too distant past when we were one, under the British flag.
Balance = Singapore * USA * China * Malaysian(Malay) * Malaysian(Chinese)
Align yourself too closely with USA = China not happy with you, Malaysia can get close to China by using the Malaysian Chinese. (Malaysian Chinese make use of Singapore to balance against the Malaysian Malay to ensure their place in Malaysia.)
Align yourself too closely with China = USA not happy, they don't sell you their weapons, no weapons equal no defence against the ultra Malay and Indonesian. With no credible defence, Malaysian Chinese will not lean towards Singapore and leverage against the Malay. For the Malaysian Chinese own survival, seeing Singapore is weak, they will go back to the Malay because political, financial and military power of Malaysia rest in the hands of the Malay ruling elite.
Can we let go of this baggage? We are now two sovereign states, one Malay centred and the other, well, "Chinese", "Multiracial", "Meritocracy", chose-one-of-the-slogan centred. The best thing that happened in 1965 was the separation. It is inevitable that misunderstandings arise from time to time. It is good we have our respective countries, to "retreat" to, to cool down and engage when tempers are not flared.
一山不容二虎.
A recent visit to an Army museum in Malaysia, i am convince that Singapore and Malaysia cannot merge any time in the foreseeable.
Nevertheless, one is reminded of a not too distant past when we were one, under the British flag.
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| 5DPA |
Balance = Singapore * USA * China * Malaysian(Malay) * Malaysian(Chinese)
Align yourself too closely with USA = China not happy with you, Malaysia can get close to China by using the Malaysian Chinese. (Malaysian Chinese make use of Singapore to balance against the Malaysian Malay to ensure their place in Malaysia.)
Align yourself too closely with China = USA not happy, they don't sell you their weapons, no weapons equal no defence against the ultra Malay and Indonesian. With no credible defence, Malaysian Chinese will not lean towards Singapore and leverage against the Malay. For the Malaysian Chinese own survival, seeing Singapore is weak, they will go back to the Malay because political, financial and military power of Malaysia rest in the hands of the Malay ruling elite.
Does the above still holds?
Evolving Dynamics ?
Today's Malaysian Chinese are somewhat different from their parents' generation. They readily identify themselves as Malaysian, despite of the "Bumi-Policy" (Make no mistake, they still resent this). I am very sure that if one day Malaysia were to be in peril, these Malaysian Chinese, many who are working outside of their country, will not hesitate to return and help to defend.
Surprising right? How can this be with the "unfair" Bumi-Policy still in place? Perhaps a Malaysian identity has emerged, getting there ...
UMNO and the BN should take heed and make hast to seriously include their non-bumi citizens when crafting national policies.
Will a confident Malaysia at ease with her ethnic identity means a less anxious neighbourhood (at least partially) for Singapore?
11 May 2012
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