Singapore Factor in Malaysian Politics

Atobe SG

Singapore has always been a factor in Malaysian Politics, and it has to be as Singapore has always affected Malaysian economics in one way or another.

According to statistics from the Immigration department, out of the 16.4 million tourists who entered Malaysia last year, 9.6 million were from Singapore.

The July 2006 Report from the Singapore Department of Statistics had recorded Singapore's investment in Malaysia at a value of S$13.94 Billion.

From a Malaysian report from The Star, 30 August 2006, the future between Malaysia and Singapore will be even more intertwined - when Singapore commerical and industrial enterprises seize the opportunity of the new South Johor Economic Region.

Singapore hopes SJER will enhance synergies

By NELSON BENJAMIN

SINGAPORE: The island republic has acknowledged that the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) may create competition between the two countries.

However, Singapore hopes its potential will further enhance existing synergies between the nations.

Singapores Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said there would be competition as many companies viewed the Johor-Singapore combination as a more competitive location for manufacturing and distribution activities than areas in China.

Given our close geographical proximity, it is not surprising that more than half of Singapores S$1.3bil (RM2.99bil) investment in Malaysia last year is located in Johor, he told a seminar on Business Opportu- nities in Malaysia here yesterday.

In fact, our companies are already looking at ways to create a win-win partnership in SJER projects.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, who opened the one-day seminar, echoed similar sentiments and added that the Government was committed towards promoting Johor as an economic hub.

We are filling in the blanks in the SJER at the moment, she told some 1,200 seminar participants from various sectors.

pisces8 SG

In April, Malaysia said it would impose a fee reported to be RM20 on foreign cars entering the country. This was to help defray its fuel subsidies, which have helped keep pump prices among the lowest in the region.

Fielding questions at a business opportunities seminar on Tuesday to encourage Singapore companies to invest in Malaysia, International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz was asked if the levy proposal was on.

Her response; There was nothing to worry about. With no announcement made, it was not likely to be implemented.

But when asked to comment on the matter on Wednesday, Deputy Home Minister Tan Cha Ho said; The Cabinet has made a decision. This is a measure that is waiting to be implemented.

About 40,000 vehicles cross into Malaysia from Singapore each day. If the RM20 fee was to be imposed., this could raise RM800,000 for the government daily. Just by one ruling, you have big money rolling into the government hands.

pisces8 SG

By right, the M$ as well as Chinese Yuen are supposed to out perform S$ but so far not happening yet?

Thailand_Hero SG

M$ can outperform SGD?

kidding who?

M$ has be depreciating steadily on the long run since 1960s against the SGD.

robertteh SG

Originally posted by Atobe:
Singapore has always been a factor in Malaysian Politics, and it has to be as Singapore has always affected Malaysian economics in one way or another.

According to statistics from the Immigration department, out of the 16.4 million tourists who entered Malaysia last year, [b]9.6 million were from Singapore.

The July 2006 Report from the Singapore Department of Statistics had recorded Singapore's investment in Malaysia at a value of S$13.94 Billion.

From a Malaysian report from The Star, 30 August 2006, the future between Malaysia and Singapore will be even more intertwined - when Singapore commerical and industrial enterprises seize the opportunity of the new South Johor Economic Region.

[/b]

To improve state relation between Singapore and Malaysia for the benefit of both sides, the key is people-to-people sincerity-integrity relation without ulterior motives dominating either sides.

Many proposals can be looked at more objectively by the people's sectors with comments from people's sectors. The Mahathir paranoid is caused by the fear of Singapore among the Malay aristocrats and elites for two reasons (1) Distrust of leaders (2) Racism.

If we want to build the super-train to join the whole continent from Singapore to China and the West, then the only way forward is to have more involvement of people with people as these people know their social, cultural and economic interests enough to make the difference.

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