Malays told to stop 'fearing Singapore'

The Straits Times, February 26, 2007
by CAROLYN HONG


KUALA LUMPUR - THE Malays are not a stupid race and should stop fearing Singapore, says former deputy premier Tun Musa Hitam.

Urging Johoreans to make a success of the state's new economic zone, he said they should stop feeling inferior, paranoid and phobic about Singapore.

'I cannot understand what the fear is. In reality, they (Singapore) are also scared of us. But the problem is that the Malays are too humble,' he said in an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, published yesterday.

'We are not a stupid race. Singapore is only an island and a small country. But we cannot say that they need us more. We need them just as they need us,' he said.

Tun Musa, who is on the panel advising on the development of the ambitious project to turn southern Johor into an economic powerhouse, said the success of this effort depends on Malaysia being open to contributions from foreigners.

The Iskandar Development Region (IDR), a 2,217-sq-km zone north of the Singapore-Malaysia border, was launched last November.

Johor politicians have expressed mixed feelings about the participation of Singapore in the development region.

But Tun Musa said that whether people liked it or not, nationalist sentiments will have to take a backseat.

'To me, there is no place for nationalism in a globalised world. To succeed, we need to accept the idea of a regional nation,' he said.

He added that when Johor developed its port and airport in the 1960s, then Singapore deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee had told him not to worry about rivalry between the transport facilities and those of Singapore.

Mr Goh had pointed out that Europe had many ports, such as Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Liverpool in the United Kingdom, but all had thrived.

'It had brought development to the region. I acknowledged the truth of his words,' said Tun Musa.

Asked about the government's plans for a passport-free zone in parts of southern Johor for foreigners, he said the authorities had not made a decision because there could be negative implications.

The Straits Times understands the government is re-examining the necessity of this free access zone after negative reactions from Johor residents.