Feeling that Singapore investors 'are not welcome in IDR'

The Straits Times, July 7, 2007


So say some writers debating remarks by MM Lee on the Johor development plan
KUALA LUMPUR - THERE is a sense that the Malaysian Malay grassroots and Umno welcome all investors to the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) except those from Singapore, according to several writers who debated the remarks by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew about the economic zone.

They say this can be gleaned from the warm welcome that Malaysians give to investors from other parts of the world, while seemingly making unhappy noises when possible Singaporean investments in the IDR are mentioned.

Their opinions are part of the ongoing reaction in the mainstream media and online community, as well as reaction by politicians on the remarks made by MM Lee over the IDR.

A reader of the popular political website, malaysia-today.net, Mr Syed Alwi, asked whether this negative sentiment was due to 'economic and ethnic insecurities' that Singaporean Chinese would cross into Johor to take control of the Malaysian Malay economy.

'Had it been the Japanese - then nothing would have happened - no reaction. But Singapore, aahh, that's different. Strange isn't it?' he asked.

Wrote commentator Luo Han Zhou in the mass-selling Nanyang Siang Pau on Thursday: 'The truth is, some of our political leaders had indeed said that they did not want to see Singaporeans 'prosper' from the IDR.

'Hence, it seems that this economic zone welcomes investors from all over the world except Singaporeans.'

Mr Josh Hong in a column in the online newspaper, Malaysiakini.com, noted that the IDR is touted as an epitome of the strategic partnership between Malaysia and Singapore.

'Unfortunately, sentiments among the Malays in Malaysia remain churlish. This is especially so when (PM Datuk Seri) Abdullah is fighting an uphill battle to establish his own authority vis � vis his charismatic predecessor.'

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi aims for the Johor economic zone to complement growth in Singapore, saying the Malaysian state has ample land and cheaper labour that the Republic can tap.

But not everyone in Umno is agreeing with the open-arms policy towards Singapore companies. People like former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad certainly do not.

In an interview with Singapore's Berita Harian last week, MM Lee said the IDR will put pressure on Singapore, just as Shenzhen in China rivalled Hong Kong in business.

He said while China helped Hong Kong cope with competition from Shenzhen, Singapore could not expect such generous treatment from Malaysia.

MM Lee's other remarks on the IDR caused anger in Malaysia due to mis-translation.

In the Berita Harian interview which was conducted in English, he had said: 'It is one thing for the opposition party PAS to knock the Malaysian Prime Minister down, but when Umno leaders, especially from Johor, hit out in the same vein, potential investors from Singapore must seriously ask themselves when these attitudes will change, and how welcome their investments will be.'

But the Malay press translated the words 'knock...down' as 'menjatuhkan' which, when used in reference to leaders, can also mean 'topple'.

The mention of 'topple' sent PAS, Johor Umno and Malaysian bloggers into a tizzy, with many accusing MM Lee of pitting certain Malaysians against PM Abdullah.

Umno Johor information chief Puad Zarkashi criticised MM Lee, saying party leaders in Johor supported PM Abdullah's IDR project.

He accused MM Lee of trying to 'create friction in Umno Johor'.



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THE ISSUE OF 'WHO'

'Had it been the Japanese - then nothing would have happened - no reaction. But Singapore, aahh, that's different. Strange isn't it?'
MR SYED ALWI, a reader of popular political website malaysia-today.net, on Singapore investments in the Iskandar Development Region