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Just two of several events, called "social gatherings"
where leaders of Malaysia and Singapore got together to interact
over the weekend.
And it seems that these informal meetings over food and games
are signs that bilateral ties between the two nations are
warming up.
The Deputy Prime Ministers of the two countries, namely Singapore's
Mr Lee
Hsien Loong and Malaysia's Najib Razak have unanimously said
that these informal interactions help Singapore and Malaysia
deal with complicated
issues.
But, specifically, how will this help resolve thorny bilateral
matters?
Valarie Tan put this question to Dr KS Nathan, a Senior Research
Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.
KSN: Informal gatherings have taken place during the premiership
of Tun Dr.
Mahathir Mohamed, and also with Mr Goh Chok Tong and with
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Informal gatherings are of course
very important in terms of building confidence between the
two parties. But I think what needs to be done is a more serious
approach to resolving several of the bilateral issues that
have plagued the relationship for some years now. Especially
the issue of water supplies, the pricing of water. I think
a more serious attitude is now developing with the leadership
of Abdullah Badawi in Malaysia. It is quite likely that it
will be made in resolving these bilateral issues.
Can we say that these social gatherings are representative
of Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's leadership
style?
KSN: Well, I think he is committed to improving the bilateral
relationship with Singapore. Not only with Singapore. But
I think his style is more moderate and aims to achieve substance
rather than form, creating the kind of necessary foundation
and groundworks to address more serious issues at a later
stage would really be the right approach. So far, it has been
quite encouraging.
So will this relatively fresh style lead to better bilateral
ties between Singapore and Malaysia?
KSN: I would argue that the relations has generally been
very good. Occasional hiccups are quite normal between very
close and proximate neighbours. The relationship is better
than what we normally know about bilateral relationships.
There are many points of intersection, and a lot of interdependence
that has been going on for a long period of time. I think
at the highest level of leadership, the synergies that exist
between Malaysia and Singapore, it's a matter of how we sort
of harmonise these synergies and push the relationship to
higher level of cooperation. And I think this is what the
two governments are trying to do now.
So can we expect such "friendly" meetings and gatherings
between leaders of
Malaysia and Singapore to be a norm in the coming future?
KSN: I would think it's a very good sign. Malaysia and Singapore
are basically friends. Why not have more gatherings of this
sort. Because what gatherings do is to improve the level of
communications, and the level of understanding and sensitivity
that are required. All these levels are required in order
to move the serious negotiations forward. So if the foundation
is strong, then I think some of the more sensitive issues
can be dealt at a more friendly level.
Mr Abdullah Badawi has said that he hopes to come back to
Singapore again,
talk things over in more detail and move forward. Singapore
and Malaysia do
have lots to resolve. How soon can we expect official talks
to take place after these so-called "friendly social
gatherings"?
KSN: Well, certainly the talks will get underway very soon.
It may be a matter of a month or two or three months. Certainly
this is not something that will be postponed by a year of
two. I think firstly the General Elections will be the priority
in Malaysia. Abdullah Badawi would like to seek his own mandate
from the people of Malaysia and enjoy the confidence of the
people in his leadership and then proceed to settle some of
these issues with greater authority.
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