By: Dr Khoo How San
First published: 04, TODAY

In today's globally-connected, Internet-savvy world, there is one legacy of the "historical baggage" of the Singapore-Malaysia ties that is really bizarre.

Singapore newspapers are forbidden to be sold or distributed by newsagents to the Malaysian public, and vice versa.

However, newsstands on both sides of the Causeway readily carry international newspapers and even some regional newspapers.

In any case, online editions of the major Singapore and Malaysian newspapers are accessible to ordinary people - and they do access them.

Just talk to your friends or relatives from Johor Baru to Alor Setar and the more Internet-savvy ones are very likely to tell you about the latest commentary in TODAY - like this one.

Granted, allowing the sale and distribution of newspapers on both sides of the Causeway is unlikely to spike the circulation figures - initially, at least.

In all likelihood, it will be a non-event as far as paid-for newspapers are concerned.

Why buy a copy when you can access the edition online?

However, it is possible that serious freesheets, like TODAY, may see a rise in pick-up readership, though.

But the "symbolic" value of this disposal of yet another historical baggage will be seen in its contribution to the momentum of improving Singapore-Malaysia relations, so evident following Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's recent visit to Singapore.

Beyond this symbolism, it will attest to confidence on the part of the authorities on both sides, of the responsible role that newspapers play when reporting and commenting on issues of mutual interest.

I believe robust but agenda-free reports and commentaries, as is already being generally practised, need not give way to "politically-correct" stories.

Indeed, these newspapers may well be enlivened by even more exchanges of ideas and debates from the contributions of commentators and letter writers from both sides of the Causeway.

Here's another "baggage-busting" idea.

Can a common history of the creation of Malaysia, Singapore's separation, and the subsequent history of bilateral relations be crafted and taught at schools?

Can the content be written such that it is factually accurate yet relatively free of biases and "national education" agendas?

I do not know if such a "Gordian knot-cutting" project has been attempted elsewhere.

I am sure even the United States and Britain, staunch friends across the Atlantic, have differing and nuanced accounts of the Boston Tea Party!

But imagine the legacy we can bequeath to succeeding generations of young Singaporeans and Malaysians if the history of the tumultuous years from the early sixties onwards can be recounted to them through relatively objective lenses.

I am not a historian but I can imagine the difficult task ahead for such a project.
I can think of one small, semantic, do-able example.

In more emotional moments, Malaysian public figures and even scholars have suggested Singapore "seceded" from Malaysia. Similarly, many Singaporeans imbibe the notion that Singapore was "expelled" from Malaysia.

There is a neutral yet accurate term to describe that painful exercise on August 9, 1965.

That word is "separation", a key word in the Separation Agreement.

It is important, however, to emphasise that the historical account be not distorted. History should be as accurate as possible.

That includes describing the mistakes and foibles of leaders and their decisions, and the circumstances of the time.

I have a final suggestion, and this one involves Indonesia as well.

Can the idea of the Growth Triangle, mooted more than a decade ago, be reinvigorated?

This idea envisaged tapping into the comparative economic advantages of Batam island in Indonesia, Johor state in Malaysia and Singapore to create "win-win" results for all sides.

Indeed, the idea was so freshly innovative then that other Asean-associated growth triangles were mooted.

We do not hear much about it today.

Instead, we hear about mutually unsatisfying competition between Singapore and Malaysian ports. Can another Gordian knot be cut on this issue?

The writer is an independent analyst and part-time lecturer at the National
University of Singapore.