i have read the book. i must say that the account is fairly
accurate. BUT unfortunately, as expected, the author also face a
big obstacle in getting sensitive information from his sources.
Most of the information he provided is equivalent to a compilation
account of what has happened to SAF since its formation, most of it
from official publications...just look at the thickness of the
appendix on notes and u know what i mean.
Although the author did tried his best to give us additional
information about secret developement in the SAF and DSTA with
respect to weapons and formations...understandably, such
information are hard to confirm and even harder to deny.
One point i disagreed with the book was its short account on a
possible war between singapore and malaysia with MAF as the foe and
potentially involving indonesia.
The author claimed that SAF has continuously trained if not
practised the possibility of a war against malaysia. while that may
be true, it is doubtful that SAF would open a second front using
Brunei as a spring board, In fact, i would even put forward the
suggestion that in the event KL should fall under SAF onslaught,
the indonesians might take the opportunity and occupied east
malaysia totally, this obviously would result in turn singapore
holding southern malaysia to counter the increase size of
indonesia. In fact, even thailand might want a piece of malaysia
northern lands if it see the MAF weakened and thrashed.
The author believed that SAF would attack the southern part of
malaysia and make inland blitz attack up to 80km deep into johor
and form the mersing line. the author believe that such a move
would be beneficial to SAF in that :
1. it secures singapore's water supply
2. the defense line is close to singapore and can be easily
supplied and reinforced in crisis.
3. that southern johor is less populated vis a vis melaka and KL
which means less patrol problem.
4. most of singapore's economic investment is in southern Johor and
thus protects singapore's economic interest.
5. that the 80km deep penetration prevents the malaysian arty from
hitting singapore.
6 (my own opinion) wiped out the malaysian army southern command,
leaving little more than 20,000 MAF soldier facing the 500,000 SAF
soldier.
7. (my own opinion) with a foothold on malaysia, RSAF is now
effectively within reach of KL, maleka, penang, ipoh and alor star,
this would presumably force KL to the negotiating table
OR.....ehhee, we can always drop a few encouraging FAEs over KL and
IPOH(sadly, the FAEs would literary devastates KL and IPOH like
hiroshima and nagasaki), alternatively, singapore might (as the
author claimed) start a second front using brunei as the spring
board and ... 'accidently' or 'unintentionally' results in the
separation of east malaysia from peninsula malaysia into 2
different country.....hheheehee....
Upon establishing the mersing line, diplomatic solution would then
be tabled in the international arena.
and to further enhance singapore's bargaining position, SAF has
achieved (according to the author) the ability (or tenacity) to
withstand a first blow from malaysia, this would make singapore the
victim of the dispute rather then the aggressor and bring
international favour on our side.(the author failed to point out
that if malaysia is run by muslim fundamentalist, even if singapore
throw the first punch, much of the western world would still be on
our side ;> ).
But the flaw of this strategy is on the basis that malaysia would
be forced to the negotiating table, in the event malaysia refuse to
'cooperate', then the total occupation of malaysia (possibly with
thai assistance) may have to be considered unless singapore wants
to end up fighting a border war for the remaining history of the
state with disasterous consequence since malaysia does have more
man then we can field. and we cant field our man on the front
forever, so.... we need to go in, kill off all the malaysian
resistance and its entire leadership, and encourage the division of
malaysia into a dozen states.
Another problem is...in the event that malaysia is willing to go to
the negotiation table, we will still need to hold southern johor
forever....since goodwill and trust is no longer in existance.
Singapore would then end up perpetually forever in a state of
war.
So...in my view, holding the mersing line can only be considered as
a long term plan after the war, when the dust has settled, but when
the war is first started, it would be foolish to stop at mersing
line, in fact, i feel that we should wipe out MAF, decimates
malaysian economy and infrastructure and massacre its entire
leadership structure. showing mercy to the enemy is the sure proven
way of committing suicide.
Believing that malaysia would honor its new peace treaty with
singapore is self-defeating, all these only results in giving
malaysia breathing space, so that they can rebuild their military
and come at us again and again and again....soon, singaporeans
would be demoralised by continuous war and many would emigrate. SO
the author's strategy is flawed in my opinion. I think the only way
singapore can survived a post war with malaysia is ..... by
ensuring that there is NO malaysia left after the war.
