Jakarta 'should help ease strained
S'pore-KL ties'
Straits Times. Nov 29,1997
The following is an editorial which appeared in an
Indonesian English daily, the Indonesian Observer, on Thursday with
the headline, Malaysia and Singapore trade words.
A DISAPPOINTING by-product of the current general turmoil is the strained relations between Malaysia and Singapore.
Malaysia's mercurial and short-tempered Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has taken Singapore to task for disseminating misleading reports about his country's economic condition.
Prime Minister Mahathir has been very much in the news since he vehemently attacked financier George Soros, later widening his target to American Jews generally.
Now, the Malaysian Prime Minister has turned his fury on Singapore, bringing into memory the tussle between the two countries brought about by former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's undiplomatic remarks about rising criminality in one of the Malaysian cities.
The Malaysian government did not accept this outburst and insisted on an official apology.
We are concerned that this display of irritation is not conducive to a harmonious atmosphere within Asean, because it can escalate to the point of hampering cooperation.
Asean should not forget that the world looks upon it as a model regional organisation for its internal unity and progress and its external contributions.
Relations between Malaysia and Singapore have actually been quite fragile since 1965, when federation between them proved unworkable following the termination of British colonial rule.
This situation has lingered on, always threatening to erupt into unpleasantness at unexpected moments.
The relationship between Singapore and Malaysia can at best be described as quite formal; without that display of cordiality that characterises the warm relations between Indonesia and Malaysia and between Indonesia and Singapore.
Both Malaysia and Singapore are important members of Asean, whose valuable contributions serve to enhance the strength of this regional organisation.
Asean can only fare well if harmony prevails among its members.
Indonesia should try to bring about a reconciliation and put an end to the strained relations that have prevailed for so long between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
This is a task tailored for Indonesia in the interest of Asean unity.