`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Friday, October 17, 2014

Singaporeans have the cheek to complain

Singapore and Malaysia are closer than we'd like to admit, and our problems are frequently mutual.
singapore malaysia300Malaysia and Singapore are a lot more interconnected than some segments of both societies like to think. And that’s only appropriate considering our shared history and heritage, which began to diverge just about half a century ago. Many Malaysians still have ties to what is derogatorily referred to as the Little Red Dot, and vice-versa; yet, we insist on taking pot shots at each other in an incessant game of who can out-petty the other.
Perhaps we could point fingers at former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who certainly didn’t fit the scriptural description of the goodly neighbour. His reign saw relations between Singapore and Malaysia reach sub-zero temperatures, and it was only after he left office that our countries slowly resumed cordiality.
But that resumption of cordiality between two countries joined by a bridge is interrupted for the moment by what we might call a tale of tolls. The Malaysian side raised the toll charges at its half of the bridge, burdening the people on both sides. And in a direct reply, as if to double the burden, the other side followed suit. And yet our dear neighbours, through their Trade and Industry Minister Teo Ser Luck, are now complaining over an expected 3% increase in business costs and a 1% increase for services because all this will result in food prices going up.
An admirable way to prove the “kiasu” stereotype, right?
Singapore is today one of the most advanced nations in the world, despite being less than a tenth of Malaysia in size. It has a vibrant economy, an excellent public transport system, and wages some Malaysians would chew their nails out to earn in comparable jobs. As far as miniscule increases go, Singaporeans are more than capable of shouldering their part of the burden.
They have also benefited from quite a few of the subsidies offered to Malaysian citizens, perhaps most notably our petrol subsidies, till it recently became untenable due to subsidy rationalization and added costs. There are many items whose prices are strictly controlled in Malaysia: sugar, milk, salt among many others. These are items that undoubtedly help lower the cost of living in Singapore when bought on our side.
And let’s not forget the water trade agreement that allows Singapore to buy raw water from the state of Johor for the low, low price of three cents per 1,000 gallons. This is understandably a source of tension on the Malaysian side of the border, as the price of water here has risen as the years marched on, while Singapore resists a review of the sweet water deal.
Feeling the pinch
It really looks like a good life across the border. But Singapore cannot expect good times all the time when Malaysians are feeling the pinch, especially with the upcoming implementation of the GST. Prices are expected to rise all around, and life will be harder for everybody. Singaporeans may feel a slight increase in the prices of goods from Malaysia. Then what? Will we hear more complaints?
We certainly suspect that will be the case.
But here is the truth. Our countries are inextricably linked economically as well, and what affects one will affect the other. Things will inevitably get more expensive on our side of the bridge next year, and this will have an impact on Singapore’s cost of living as well because the island imports a wide range of goods from this side.
Look, times are hard all around. We too have our complaints about how hard it’s beginning to be up here.
Singapore and Malaysia have always enjoyed a close, inter-dependent relationship, and both must continue to seek win-win solutions to situations that arise from our occasionally conflicting interests.
Cleaving to the idea of mutual cooperation, and yes, mutual burdens will help alleviate the effects of the coming global economic slowdown and rising cost of living within both countries. Let’s stop complaining and begin the process of finding solutions.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.