High Commissioners speak out about Singapore-Malaysia ties

Producer: Yvonne Gomez
First broadcast: 9 September 04, Radio Singapore International

Singapore and Malaysia have new leaders at the helm. In August this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took over the leadership reins in Singapore. This came about ten months after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Malaysia’s new Prime Minister in October 2003.

Observers note that recent months have seen a new warmth in the relationship between the two neighbours after strains over a number of bilateral issues in the past.

So what exactly has changed? Yvonne Gomez put this question to Mr Ashok Mirpuri, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia.

AM: There is what I’ve seen, a warmer tone when Ministers and officials meet. I think there has been reinforcement and a strong recognition, on both sides, that in working together in many areas, it benefits both Singapore and Malaysia. This underpins the very strong foundation we have between the two countries. In 2004, we’ve had a very busy year, with an exchange of visits by leaders and other Ministers. The year started with Prime Minister Abdullah, and then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong met in Singapore. At that time, the two leaders underlined their determination to put the relationship on the right track. They discussed how the two countries could maximize the common areas, to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Since that time, many ministerial visits have followed, and these have helped the two sides to renew their relationship and make new friends. These visits have also been important because they are key platforms for discussions on issues that are of mutual interest and concern. In his National Day Rally speech last month, PM Lee Hsien Loong said that under PM Abdullah, our relations have taken a fresh start. PM Abdullah had also noted earlier that relations between the two neighbours are very good.

Agreeing with Mr Mirpuri is Dato’ N. Parameswaran. Mr Parameswaran is Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Singapore.

NP: Renewing old friendships and forging new friendships. This is what I’ve seen over the past few months, with the series of ministerial-level visits, senior officials visits, and various other visits that have taken place. That has been one very important development. I think this is very important because you always have to put a face to a name, and I think the Malays say it best – tak kenal maka tak cinta – you have to know before you can love. In the past, from my experience with my discussions with Singapore’s Ministers, they’ve met many of their counterparts everywhere else except in KL and Singapore. It’s very unfortunate. I sensed this when I went to the kongsi raya function in Johore Bahru and some of our Ministers asked me “who’s that person” and “who’s this person”. And that’s why the event that took place subsequently at Sentosa was really very good because it really brought the people together. And I see the effects of that now with the series of visits that have developed since Sentosa.

With two new leaders at the helm now, what direction will bilateral relations take from here? Mr Mirpuri elaborates on what effect this will have on the resolution of the more difficult outstanding issues between Singapore and Malaysia.

AM: I think that there is strong political will on both sides, to improve bilateral relations. What is crucial is that both sides see the importance of working together, to widen areas of cooperation, and to calmly resolve issues that may arise. On the issues themselves, when PM Abdullah was in Singapore, then-PM Goh explained that Singapore wanted the ‘dead-knot’ issues to be referred to third-party arbitration or adjudication. This would allow both sides to move forward with bilateral relations, and not be bogged down by the issues. PM Abdullah said he wanted to give talks another go, and the understanding reached at that time, was that he would reply with specific proposals on how to resolve the various issues. It was also agreed that these proposals would first be discussed at the PM’s level. I’m sure that these proposals will be carefully considered when we receive them. But let’s not underestimate the difficulties in unraveling these issues. I should add that our common interest far exceed the differences. The important thing is not to allow differences over any one issue, to hold us back from cooperating where our interests coincide.

Mr Parameswaran feels that there is a desire, shared between both Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, to resolve these issues.

NP: They’ve expressed it so many times. There’s no reason not to want to move in that direction. It is a direction they’ve set for themselves. And I think the issues…they pre-date both the Prime Ministers, so it’s not fair to expect the Prime Ministers to try and resolve issues that have been there since the British days, since independence and separation, and our previous leadership – whatever – but you can’t expect Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, in about less than one year, to try and resolve issues that have been there for a long time. That’s why, if you move in haste, you’re not going to find a solution. The present situation is good, in the sense that it’s brought our leaders closer to each other, to begin to understand each other, and many small things are happening which are good for our relations. They’re all moving in the right direction. I think when the comfort level has increased, and the leaders feel it’s the right time, they will begin to discuss. And I’m sure that my Prime Minister will have ideas. Some of what he said about the “low lying fruits” – they’ve already been plucked!

And just what are some of these low-lying fruits that have already been plucked? Mr Parameswaran explained.

NP: I mean, could you have bought into Telecoms? You couldn’t have bought it without the government’s agreement. Could the signboard at Tanjong Pagar have been brought down if the government did not approve? If we win, you win, isn’t it? They’re small but they all add up to the direction we want to go in.

Mr Mirpuri says that we will have to wait for Malaysia’s proposals before we can start talking about ‘low-lying fruits’, he noted that the bilateral economic relationship has been enhanced.

AM: There’ve been several Singapore business and investment delegations visiting Malaysia, and the two countries have agreed on the third-country business development fund, and the revival of the Malaysia-Singapore Business Council. There is also the planned cross-trading alliance between Singapore Exchange and Bursa Malaysia.

Ties between Singapore and Malaysia certainly look like they are on the mend. But how far have the personalities of both Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Abdullah Badawi contributed to this? Mr Parameswaran gave his view.

NP: I think, to some extent, personalities are important. But I think the issues themselves can generate different feelings on both sides. Depending on how personalities can inter-relate with each other, it makes the resolution of issues all that easier. I think what I’ve seen over the period since Prime Minister Badawi took over, until now, he’s had the best of goodwill with the leadership in Singapore, from top down. I see a similar sort of response form the Singapore side – let’s be fair. And if you’re able to inter-relate like this, I’m sure you’ll be able to talk. As far as Prime Minister Badawi is concerned, he has got no problems with anybody in Singapore. It was he who wanted to speak to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to congratulate him recently. There are many other overtures that have been made, which are very warm, between the two sides. So I think there is a mutuality of interest to be good friends.

Mr Mirpuri believes that there is strong political will on both sides to improve bilateral relations.

AM: The two leaders know each other, and they’ve known each other for some time. They’ve spoken recently on the phone, and have set the stage for enhanced interactions and communications across all levels of the relationship. No matter what generation of the relationship you are from, in Singapore or Malaysia, I think that both sides recognize that this is a special relationship that provides unique opportunities for both sides to work together.

At the peak of strained relations between Singapore and Malaysia last year over the water issue, there were several rather emotive reports in the media of both countries.

Some have said that these did not make a positive contribution to the debate. I asked Mr Mirpuri what he thought about the role of the media in shaping, or influencing bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore.

AM: I think the media educates and informs the public on the conduct of the relationship, particularly between close neighbours. I think, given this closeness, it’s important that the media recognize that it does have this opportunity to play a positive role, to help audiences on either side of the Causeway, understand each other better. Sometimes it’s important for members of the media away from the established stereotypes of each other, and to update the audience with the new and fresh perspectives that are emerging in the society. The media has to address the new priorities and find out what the common grounds are for cooperation. I think that would be a way that the media can play a very positive role, in terms of Singapore-Malaysia relations.

Mr Parameswaran agrees that the media has a very important role to play here.

NP: I think the media is very important. And it was the media that also made things very bad, on both sides. The media has a very important role to help in this process. You can make it better, or you can make it worse, because you’re heard, read, seen. Looking back and seeing how the media has been, I sense that the media on both sides are taking the cue from the state of relations today. I find the media on both sides much more friendlier and more understanding, and not creating problems for us, letting our relations move ahead. So I won’t undervalue the media. The media is extremely important on both sides. You can help us become even better friends.

Johor State is Singapore’s first point of contact with Malaysia. Many Singaporeans and Malaysians flock back and forth across the Causeway for various reasons. Mr Mirpuri elaborated on Johor’s role in the bilateral relationship.

AM: Johore is regularly frequented by many Singaporeans, and many of them enjoy these outings, and many Johore-ians travel to Singapore very regularly. There are very strong links, and there are many significant Singapore investments in Johore. Given the geographic proximity, there is an obvious symbiosis between Singapore and Johore, so that’s the key role that it plays.

Mr Parameswaran outlined his hopes, in terms of positive interactions between the citizens of both countries, right there at the border.

NP: I think what we have between other parts of the country and Singapore, should also be reflected in what we should have at Johore, because it’s your first entry point. You form many impressions from Johore. And I can assure you that we’ve also been to Johore, from the High Commission, to talk to the Police Chief about crimes that you say, about problems that you face in traffic summonses, about passports being seized. Because it’s very important that Johore creates the right image for Singaporeans because that’s your first point of contact. And if they find hostility right there, then they won’t move. And this is a point that we’ve also reiterated with the Johore police. I think they’re also keen to see that no bad impression is created, and that crimes could be mitigated at least, or wiped out completely. I think Johore is the great beneficiary of whatever happens between our two countries, in terms of movement of people and other things. Johore is very important in the impression that it can create.

Finally Mr Mirpuri described what it’s like, living in Malaysia for almost two years now.

AM: I’ve been traveling to Malaysia for many years, and in a sense, coming here and living here in October 2002, gave me quite a different perspective from just being a tourist and traveler to Malaysia. Malaysia for a Singaporean, is a place where we are welcome quite warmly, as Malaysians are welcome in Singapore. And one very, very important thing…we’ll always keep arguing about who has better food!