Singapore Diary: Reflecting 51 Years Of Malaysia-Singapore Relations

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Proximity and shared history, formal to the familial, this is what Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Ilango Karuppanan described of Malaysia-Singapore diplomatic relations over the last 51 years. Ilango, who took up the appointment exactly five months ago on Wednesday, also noted that the relations were more like among siblings or cousins and at the same time 'complex and sensitive' as observed by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong himself. The similarities and contradictions make Malaysia-Singapore relations unique in may ways. The seasoned diplomat spoke on Malaysia and Singapore's half a century of bilateral relations at a reception to commemorate Malaysia's 59th National Day and the 83rd Malaysian Armed Forces Day here recently. Ilango, who presented his credentials to Singapore president Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana on April 28, continued that the relations were complex because they were intensive and spanned across practically every aspect of bilateral relations. Singapore too values highly of its relations with Malaysia, he said quoting Lee's speech during the 2016 National Day Rally where the Prime Minister said Malaysia and Indonesia were Singapore's two most important partners despite of the complex and often sensitive relationships. Despite of all the challenges bilateral relations have remained robust, said Ilango who was Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry)'s Undersecretary for Europe from 2014 until his current appointment. The good ties between both sides of the Causeway is also reflected in the people to people relations as well, what more with many families at both sides having relatives across the Causeway. "One only has to look at the number of people crossing both ways of the Causeway. "It is the third busiest land border crossing in the world, with the number of crossing increasing annually indicating that we must have been doing something right," he said. It was reported that an average of 295,731 people use the two land crossings between Malaysia and Singapore daily. Johor State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Tee Siew Kiong said Immigration Department records showed that some 107.9 million people used the Causeway and Second Link in 2015. Johor is Malaysia's southern state. This figure did not include the ones traveling on motorcycles, cars, vans, lorries and buses, he was reported saying. Even the leaders and ministers from both sides communicate with each other frequently, both formally and informally. For example, within minutes of learning of Lee's health scare while delivering his speech at the recent National Day Rally, Prime Minister Najib had wished him speedy recovery. "This type of genuine concern for each other has been another hallmark of leadership on both sides of the Causeway," he said. Lee was taken ill while speaking at the country's National Day Rally on Aug 21. "Heard that you're not feeling well. I hope you're all right. Get well soon," said Prime Minister Najib to Prime Minister Lee via Twitter account. "Thanks for your good wishes. My doctors tell me I should be OK," Lee then replied. While the bilateral relations over the five decades have been plain sailing except for minor hiccups now and then, how does Ilango envisions the relations in future? "With the benefit of our experience in the last five decades, it is clear that cooperation rather than competition is the path to achieving mutual goals. That is why leaders from both side have agreed to clear the unresolved vestiges of history, said Ilango. "Prime Minister Najib Razak recently underscored this when he said that Malaysia's approach is based on pursuit of mutual benefit and putting behind stumbling blocks," he said. Ilango who joined the diplomatic corps in 1988 had served as the Malaysian Ambassador to Lebanon from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that he had served as Minister Counsellor at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington D.C. (2006-2010) and Charge d'Affaires at the Malaysian Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, from 1997 to 2001. He had also served as First Secretary at the Embassy of Malaysia in Bonn, Germany, from 1994 to 1997. --BERNAMA