Some time back, there was an article in Malaysiakini quoting a politician saying that Singapore is not a country, it is an Island.
This, taken in the context of our protest against the EC envoy, Mr Rommel, shows a sorrowful display of arrogance, ignorance and double standard.
First of all, despite being an island, Singapore is acknowledged to be a country by every member of the United Nations, by virtual of its membership in the organisation.
By having mutual exchange of HIgh Commissioner, our government has also recognised the fact that Singapore is a sovereign nation.
A country needs not be of a big size. As long as it has sovereignty , it is a country. If only size matters, then in the eyes of China, India and USA , perhaps we may not qualify to be a country.
Secondly, when an envoy gives a remark about our NEP, with the good intention of trying to help us to be more competitive, we scream at the envoy and complain that he has stepped over the line. We are however, permitted to make derogatory remarks about Singapore not being a country… This I think is clearly a case of Malaysians practicing double standard. ” Those who stay in glass houses must not throw stones”…. remember what our English teachers taught us?
Singapore has a small population but its economy is no smaller than Malaysia. According to IMF figures, the 2006 GDP (nominal) of Malaysia is US 150 billion, and GDP for Singapore is US 139 Billion. This is despite the fact that we have about 5 to 6 times the population of Singapore.
I do not agree with a lot of the policies in Singapore, but where credit is due, we must give credit. The people are very competitive, the government has the political will to push through things, the politician and civil servants are very clean, the education facilities are first class. Above all, they practice true meritocracy.
Just to think that we started at the same time.
All is not lost. We can still catch up if we have the will to change.
Review NEP; Practice meritocracy; rule with good governance; deal harshly with corruptions; review education system; free the economy…
we can do it.
recommended reading:
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Jun 26, 2007 @ 23:17:10
Like the hare and the tortoise, the hare thinks he has plenty of time to catch up. Not very appropriate but I am trying to show that Malaysia still has plenty of resources to play with.
More than 10 years of oil reserves, vast virgin jungles to harvest timber and replant with oil palms or rubber trees, vast water catchment areas, mineral deposits, etc. etc. things which Singapore can only envy. Even water and sand are precious commodities to Singapore. So why worry when we can squander to our hearts content for now?
LikeLike
Jun 27, 2007 @ 01:58:07
I agree with the view above, the loud mouth Malaysia’s Minister is dragging Malaysians to kampong politics instead of moving forward. His rhetoric is to gain popular support from kampongs instead of bringing us to have intellectual discussion. I am sure many other Malaysians don’t agree with him. I am Malaysian who indirectly probably gained benefit from the policy of what English called positive discrimination. But mind you very many Bumiputra are sidelined. I am not worried as Bumi, where there is competition requires give a level playing field I am prepared to compete so too my kids.
LikeLike
Jun 27, 2007 @ 04:07:20
An American wrote an article on Bolehnation, “detailing” what he knows about Malaysia. To quote him, “I am ashamed to say, but the first image of South East Asia that comes to mind is of American GIs walking through the jungle, swatting mosquitoes off their necks. Truth is I have no idea if Malaysia even has any jungles or if American soldiers have ever set foot in them. I couldn’t tell you Malaysia’s exact location in the world, and I know considerably less about it than Thailand, Indonesia or Singapore, which I know are nearby.”
All I can say is, many of our politicans are katak bawah tempurung. Really embarrasing.
LikeLike
Jun 27, 2007 @ 05:04:04
good article Darren – but I believe that when UMNO ministers go into high gear with their exophobia, they’re actually bersandiwara-ing more for their own ‘constituency’, to demonstrate they (or Malaysia under their leadership) aren’t doing any worse (esepcialy in comparison with a Chinese-majority nation). Their methods are at times undoubtedly crude, apparently illogical or idiotic but they couldn’t care less so long as they can bull those voters.
LikeLike
Jun 27, 2007 @ 07:42:04
I agree that the rhetoric is for vote getting. But if a minister can openly degrade another country, then we have no moral authority at all to question others who criticise us… like what Rommel has done..
Too often, our politicians mind too much about their votes from their constituents and care less about improving the nation’s competitiveness and governance. What they worry is whether they will get elected or whether they can get a official positins with a lot of perks and trappings.
I feel that they should go back to basic and start thinking about the future of the nation, the correct path to follow, the correct policies to adopt.
LikeLike
Jun 27, 2007 @ 19:09:31
In reality there are no countries. Just borders and misconceptions in prople’s minds.
http://goldfusion.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Jun 28, 2007 @ 02:23:16
“In reality there are no countries. Just borders and misconceptions in prople’s minds.”
Hi sturgo,
I tried to tell that to an American immigration officer, but he didn’t seem to buy it. LOL.
LikeLike
Jun 30, 2007 @ 13:42:28
So we are too big compared with Singapore and therefore it is hard to curb corruption. What a whole lot of crap!!! Okay, if this is the case, then let us take either Selangor or Melaka and compare it with Singapore. Let’s face it – as long as this country is ruled by racists and religious bigots, we will never move forward. A foreigner has spoken and that shows that our discriminatory policies are already to known to all and sundry in this globalised world. So why hide and go into self-denial?????? Just call a spade a spade and that’s what Mr Rommel did.
LikeLike
Jan 06, 2008 @ 06:51:17
Umno-putra “ketuanan melayu” racist supremancy theory in display, the equivalence of some right-wing racist groups in USA like the KKK, black panther group, aryan nation type of “bullcraps’.
LikeLike