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MM Lee ‘happy’ for Singapore reunion with Malaysia

Which other political figure has enough stature and foresight to handle a political hot potato like a reunion of Singapore-Malaysia? So eyebrows are again raised when Mr Lee said Singapore would be “happy” to go back to Malaysia should the latter practise meritocracy in a recent interview with American journalist Tom Plate. Here is the context of his “happy” statement. TODAY  reported:

“When Mr Plate asked Mr Lee who he thought would “come after” Singapore, the Minister Mentor said: “We are a standing indictment of all the things that they (Malaysia) can be doing differently.”"If they would just educate the Chinese and Indians, use them and treat them as their citizens, they can equal us and even do better than us and we would be happy to rejoin them.“The last time Mr Lee floated the idea in 1996, it caused ripples on both sides of the Causeway, with then—Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad replying that he did not think “it is time yet”.While much has changed since then, scepticism towards a reunion remains. Said Dr Ooi Kee Beng, an Institute of South—east Asian Studies (ISEAS) fellow: “The chances of a re—merger in 1996 and in 2007 are the same — Zero.”While bilateral economic links would continue to increase, Malaysia is far from ditching its decades—old bumiputera policy, “where race—based affirmative action … has disqualified efficacy as the criterion for policy correctness”, Dr Ooi added. In Parliament, Opposition leader Chiam See Tong is often a lone, but persistent, voice on the issue of an economic union with Malaysia, espousing the benefits of a common market. Mr Chiam told TODAY: “A political union is out of the question. The Malaysians will never agree.”Dr Ooi added: “The very idea of a re—merger on Singapore’s terms is appalling to most Malays (in Malaysia) and any move in that direction would be political suicide for a Malaysian politician to take.”ISEAS’ Dr Terence Chong believes that Mr Lee had in mind the future — “50 to 100 years down the road” — when he talked about rejoining Malaysia. Said Dr Chong: “If you look at historic port cities, they all enjoy their golden eras and then decline. For Singapore to flourish in perpetuity would mean defying history.”

My simple view on merger has not changed as I wrote in my post in 28 July 2005.

For that to happen though, we need a lot more humility.

What do you feel about a reunion?

10 comments October 11th, 2007

Bala Reddy - I respect this judge

It’s rare for me to like a judge. They usually strike fear or arouse indignation in me. But this Bala Reddy is my kind of judge and has won my respect. He doesn’t tamper with justice but tempers justice with mercy. The way he metes out sentences is with the wisdom of Solomon. Too many cases to mention, but cases in point are Garyl Tan, 17, internet addict who tapped on unsecured wireless network in his condo neighbourhood and got hauled into court. He got off with a structured and rehabilitative program and 18 months ban. Better one was a Ms Wong, 37, who kept stillborn child in locker in NTUC workplace. She was given 15 months probation, 80 hours community service and compulsory psychiatric sessions; no jail. But today he reached the pinnacle, as the Straits Times reported:

A MAN who stole a bible to replace his torn one was given a new bible by a Community Court judge on Tuesday. Repeat offender Tan Jit Liang was given a hard-cover bible by Judge Bala Reddy after he was sentenced to four months’ jail for theft. The judge then asked the 26-year-old to turn to a page in the bible, which reads “Thou shall not steal”, and told him to read the bible while serving time. Warning Tan not to get into trouble again, Judge Reddy said: “You already have several previous convictions. The next time you come to court, you will be considered for corrective training. Tan admitted stealing a bible cover and a New International Version (NIV) bible totalling $99 from Tecman Management Services at Bras Basah Complex on Sept 17. A shop assistant had seen him behaving suspiciously and stopped him outside the store. He checked Tan’s haversack and found the two unpaid items. The police were called.Tan was last jailed two months about a year ago for theft.He could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined for theft.”

This is called justice tempered with mercy.

Wonder if he is a Christian.

How else would he know how to find, “Thou shall not steal.”

If he is, he’s living it: light and salt to the world!

If I can meet him, lunch is on me.

12 comments October 11th, 2007