Causeway ties
A happier change
Younger Singaporeans and Malaysians today view each other a little differently compared to the previous generation. By Seah Chiang Nee.
May16, 2009

"I DIDN’T think I’d ever write this, but Malaysia boleh!"

This simple accolade paid by a Singaporean reflected a general feeling here for Malaysia – especially its police force – after it captured the republic’s most dangerous man in Johor.

He is the alleged Jemaah Islamiah leader Mas Selamat Kastari, who was picked up by the Special Branch in Johor with the help of intelligence given by Singapore and Indonesia.

The 48-year-old terrorist suspect, who once plotted to crash a commercial plane into Changi Interna- tional Airport, had escaped from high-security detention a year ago.

His recapture – like his escape 13 months ago – was a big story here.

His photograph had been posted everywhere and thousands of Singaporean policemen and troops had scoured the island in search of him.

Understandably, the relief was immense and it can be gleaned from chat-sites. The newspapers carried reams of reports.

The following are samples of comments:

** “Thankful for the Malaysian Police Force for helping to keep the region safe ... they certainly won my respect, salute!”

** “We must certainly thank our neighbour for the excellent work done. Safety and security of our nation must never be compromised.”

** “Well done Malaysian and Singapore Special Branch. We must thank our neighbour for the excellent work done.”

** “Hope this is a big lesson to Singapore. Please don’t mock our neighbours again, as both Indonesia and Malaysia have captured someone whom we cannot even hold.”

** “We should stop being over-suspicious of our neighbours and stop spreading talk like higher crime rate in Johor Baru, etc.”

** “The Malaysian Police may be accused of corruption and being inefficient, but the fact that they caught Mas Selamat speaks volumes.”

** “Our police couldn’t go to Malay- sia and arrest him, so they could only provide information and let them arrest him.”

In contrast, many of the postings were critical of the authorities here for his escape to Malaysia.

The details of the man and his capture have been widely reported, so I will not repeat them here, except to make a few observations.

Firstly, the accolades were not just perfunctorily given, but were more exuberant than I had expected.

Secondly, the episode is further proof that no matter how bad relations are (they’re now in fine shape), some bilateral areas are never allowed to be affected.

On top of the list is their police force cooperating in combating terrorism, crime and drugs.

Other fields are immigration, tax collection, Customs, health and rescue operations, which both sides are keen to remove from politics.

In other words, no matter how fiery their conflicts grew during the past 43 years, their bureaucrats made sure this cooperation was not compromised.

Thirdly, the warm reactions have brought out the younger people’s changed attitudes towards their northern neighbours that are different from those of the older generation.

As the two countries get older, their populations are gradually leaving behind the bitterness of their separation in 1965.

Connected by regionalism and the Internet, their younger, better-educated generations now share more common values than those that divide them.

They have quick access to what each other says and does every day that makes them less preoccupied with the issues of the past.

Instead they tend to judge each other for perceived merits (like Selamat’s capture) or demerits.

People are seeking opportunities in each other’s territory.

All these are shifting the underlying relationship on the ground level that could influence bilateral politics, and may even overcome the deep chasm posed by race and religion.

The prime ministers, Lee Hsien Loong (aged 57) and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (aged 56) were born a year apart in 1952 and 1953, respectively.

This means they were merely in their teens, and had just finished secondary school, when Singapore was acrimoniously booted out of the federation in 1965.

After the retirement of Lee Kuan Yew and Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad as premiers, none of the current crop of ministers has had any active involvement in the 60s conflicts.

In Asian societies like ours, the attitude of the leaderships towards each other has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the civil service and the people.

Stereotypes die hard, and to an extent, race still exerts a strong influence on present-day behaviour.

The traditional view here has been to regard Malaysia as a Malay-dominated country, while in the opposite direction, Singapore is a Chinese society.

For the young generation of Singaporeans, however, race – while it has not disappeared – has become less of a consideration in their dealings with Malaysians.

A similar change, I believe, is happening among many young Malay-sians of all races.

The factor here is the dilution of the Malay-Chinese conflict within Singapore society itself as a result of the influx of 1.5 million foreigners.

Highly visible everywhere, they are regarded as a serious threat for jobs and opportunities by Singa- poreans of all races.

If there is a them-and-us divide today, it applies to locals against foreigners, when it once was used to refer to Malays and Chinese.

“The strongest complaints against the presence of mainland Chinese today have come from Singaporean Chinese – not Malays,” said a retired banker.

“The perceived threat of the foreigners has become a rallying factor for the once quarrelling races,” he added.

There are, of course, other integrating factors: increased global competition and the struggle to get jobs, plus policies that make various races study, eat and live together.

They are helping to mould the New Singaporean, which may ex-plain the better understanding of Malaysians.

(This was published in The Star, Malaysia, this morning).