KL paper raps S'pore move to allow US use of new Changi base

That was how a Malay-language daily described the recent agreement between Singapore and the United States which allowed the US Navy to use a new base being built in Changi.

Berita Harian Malaysia noted, in a news analysis, that the announcement of this agreement was made at a time when everyone's attention was on the economic crisis in the region.

And though there was no reaction from the leaders of Asean nations, "Singapore's action is another provocation which is unsettling", the paper said.

Mr Loh Seng Kok, the deputy secretary-general of Malaysian Chinese Association Youth, wondered if there was more than met the eye with this agreement. After all, there was no reason for the US to maintain a military presence in the region.

Asean did not need the involvement of any superpower to guarantee the security of the area. This point was underlined in 1971 when Asean leaders signed an accord which declared the region a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan).

Surely Singapore, including Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, had not forgotten this fact, Mr Loh said.

He added: "While Singapore has a right to do what it wants, the spirit of Zopfan should be respected."

The paper noted that Singapore's Second Defence Minister and Education Minister Teo Chee Hean was quoted as saying that the new port was located strategically on the eastern part of the island, and that together with the Tuas naval base at the western end, would enhance the protection of the Republic's waters.

Umno Youth is also upset with the agreement to allow the US Pacific Fleet to use the new port.

Mr Ruslan Kassim, an executive committee member, said that Singapore's action had gone against the spirit of Zopfan.

He said: "This is a big slap against her neighbours and the region. It has upset neighbours. This is like disturbing the hornet's nest.

"Asean should discuss this development through formal channels."

The latest Singapore action gave credence to the theory that it was afraid of its own shadow, he said.

"Who has threatened them? Don't create cracks where none exists because it is easier to spread disunity than it is to re-unify," he added.

The report went on to say that Asean nations had agreed on the creation of a South-east Asian nuclear-weapons-free zone, which came into effect last year.

The zone had been registered with the United Nations. So why did Singapore and the US choose to ignore this fact?

It must have something to do with the unwillingness of the US to recognise the nuclear-weapons-free zone.

Berita Harian Malaysia also questioned America's commitment to the region, suggesting that its presence was only to look after its own strategic interests.

But the report acknowledged that not everyone viewed the presence of US troops negatively.

It noted that Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia's Defence Minister, had said that the superpower's presence added to the stability in the region.

He said: "Every country in the region has its own defence policy to increase cooperation, including joint military training. Malaysia is no exception and has had training with the US and other countries."

But this did not mean that foreign troops in the region could do whatever they wanted.

Also giving his view on this issue was Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Mohamad Idris Ismail, a lecturer in Strategic Studies, Defence and International Relations at Universiti Malaya.

He said that if the US was only going to use the base in Singapore for repairs and resupply purposes, then there was nothing to fear.

"But if it uses the base as a launching pad to attack other countries, then Malaysia and other countries in the region will definitely protest against their presence."

Published in the Straits Times. February 1, 1998