Hi guys, I thought I'd just make some of my thoughts into words
and share with you guys on what I'm thinking.
Its gonna be about the comparisons between Singapore and
Malaysia in respect with Dr.Mahatir's blog:
http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2009/06/the-modern-middle-kingdom.html#more
Some doubts and some clarifications would be great.
Water
issues
I'm not exactly sure if any country in this dispute is actually
making a loss. But for as far as I know, none are.
What Malaysia has been trying really hard to inject is that the
sale of water to Singapore has been of an unfair pricing compared
to what the other states are purchasing the water at a higher
pricing and that they would LOVE an increased in pricing.
With the sale of treated water back to Msia and the Msia govt
re-selling the water to their people at a profit-earning price, I
really don't see why Msia is whining here.
Furthermore, what Mahatir has been trying to brainwash his
supporters are that Msia is doing a service to Singapore.This is
utterly untrue and to be honest, crap.
Malaysia had an abundance of water before and after Singapore
requested to buy water from Singapore. It was of the lack of
insight into the future that Malaysia sold the water to Singapore
at that price.
But right now after Singapore has far surpassed Msia
economically, Msia just seems to start whining about how they have
done a "service" to Singapore back then and that Singapore is
everything but grateful. Even with the proposal to increase the
price of water that is sold to Singapore approved, Malaysia tried
to bundle up all the existing bilateral problems and try to make it
into a one-time trade solution.
Malaysia scrapped it when both countries could not come up with
a suitable solution, effectively putting negotiations to earn more
from the water sold to a halt.
Who's fault?
Crooked
Bridge
Msia is a sovereign state. She has the right to build whatever
she wants in her territory. Singapore has no right to intefere as
long as the water pipes are not cut.
There are countless methods to do this. The water pipes can be
rerouted, just like how the sliproad of a mainroad leads onto
expressways. Its as simple as that.
Although with this, how are the extra costs borned? Who will?
Singapore or Malaysia?
Anyway, Msia decided to give the go ahead to construct their
side of the bridge. What I do not understand is how the
construction has been cancelled.
Reading from uncited sources because I'm too lazy, this can be
contributed to some basic reasons.
1) They cannot build their side of the bridge because they
along, with Singapore, could not come to an agreement due to
Singapore wanted to only approve the project and also build their
side of the bridge to build a STRAIGHT bridge only if they sold
sand and something else to Singapore in a trade-agreement.
I have NO idea why they are being controlled by Singapore in a
decision wholly independent of Msia.
2) Singapore refuses to budge because she is afraid that Msia's
ports will take away all of Singapore's business.
Sure, Msia can come up with a tons of reasons as to why the
bridge is of utmost importance. Just to name one.
1) Stagnant non-east to west flowing sea water on the johore
strait, which to be honest, is shared by Singapore too. I don't see
why only the Malaysians are affected by this to an extend they need
a whole new bridge.
Even so, its just reasons why Singapore do not have to agree to
a new bridge.
But the true question is why Singapore is actually a
contributing factor to the construction of the bridge? Or has the
bridge construction halted due to another factor being that the
money was much better spent on more urgent needs like feeding the
poor?
RACISM
With regards to Dr.Mahatir's blog. With the sudden interest
sparked in me in politics, I dutifully read through every
english-written comment posted.
Many say that Singapore is far from being non-racist.
I guess there are 2 parts to this.
Socially, racism will never disappear off the face of this
earth. Everyone stereotypes. We all know how we stereotype each
race here in Singapore. Afterall, thats sometimes how businesses
work too.
But what I admire is that Singaporeans will call themselves
Singaporeans. Not Singapore Malay, not Singaporean Chinese or not
Singaporean Indian.
But political wise, Singapore is on the move on changing the
past mindset. For instance the first Malay brigadier general in the
SAF is proof that this is on the right track to proving that
Singapore is not a racist state.
Some even commented that as a Malay, he/she found difficulty in
finding a job in Singapore. But to me, what one doesn't realize is
that Singapore's economy relies heavily on foreign investments.
Basically Singapore is too much of a metropolitic country.
There is a high percentage of businesses here that deals with
the big foreign countries. Very much often these businesses have
dealings with China. Which probably explains why a
Mandarin-speaking representative is much desired over one that do
not speaks Mandarin.
The market compared to another country that speaks mainly Malay
like Malaysia or Indonesia is considerably smaller, but still
big.
With equal educational rights, Halal-food certified stalls
everywhere and the weekly friday prayers recognition, I don't see
how Singapore should be classified as nothing less racist than
Msia.
After finish typing this, I suddenly realize that putting
thoughts to words require more than just 30mins of my time. I just
want to have a dedicated thread as to the current disputes between
Singapore and Malaysia, and hopefully Indonesia as these disputes
have really made many confused.
Lets discuss anything, shall we?