Dear friends,
It seems that bilateral relations are getting murkier. This week, we’ve seen the number of ships “invading” Singapore waters increased from one to two. We’ve seen announcements banning egg exports and 4 species of fish and prawns. We’ve seen the land checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia shutter all but 1 immigration and checkpoint control lane leading to 7 hour jams at the Causeway due to an “exercise”
In times like these, it is important to remain calm and not escalate the situation. Let’s try to be civil. Let’s strive not to resort to name-calling, unhelpful proclamations of bravado and mindless taunting or trolling.
Whatever the Mahathir government is doing is hurting their own people more than Singapore. Singapore is able to quickly diversify its food sources. If push comes to shove we have a military that in Mahathir’s own words is more powerful than Malaysia’s. So we know that Mahathir will not go to war with Singapore.
Singapore will survive but those who are really suffering are the Malaysian chicken farmers, fishermen, distributors who rely on exports to supplement their income and the workers who travel across the Straits everyday for a better salary. So let’s not put the blame on them. We are brothers after all.
So if we are not committing ad hominem or thumping our chest like testosterone filled gorillas, what do we do?
Let me quote Yvaine from Stardust, written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. What do stars do? They shine.
In the 90s the same PM threatened to cut water supplies. We poured millions into water filtration technologies, built world class desalination and NEWater treatment plants. Today Singapore is a globally recognized water specialist and has the potential to be self-sufficient in water. The tables have turned and this year, we were the ones who had to come to the rescue when Johor suffered a drought. When faced with a water crisis, we literally looked our aggressors in their eyes and said that we rather drink our own pee.
When we faced a sand import ban that threatens the pace of our land reclamation projects, we developed innovative ways of reclamation which uses less sand that is more efficient and environmentally friendly.
No natural sources of oil? We built the 7th largest oil refinery in the world on Pulau Bukom, the first underground oil storage facility in South East Asia and are today the largest supplier of offshore oil rigs. Despite producing 0 barrels of oil, we have embedded ourselves into the hydrocarbon process flow giving us undeniable access to oil and gas.
Not enough land for our rubbish? We built an island out of thrash that looks more like a resort than a rubbish dump.
Even when it comes to egg farming. The modern way of farming eggs the region uses has its roots from Ho Seng Choon (yes our very own egg farmer) who through continuous innovation, overcame constraints in land, and raised productivity in poultry farming. When challenged, he pioneered a way to raise patridges, a temperate fowl in a tropical climate. Although our egg farms only supply about a quarter of our egg requirements, given time and focus, they do have the potential for self-sufficiency.
When faced with crisis, Singapore has always came out stronger. The old adage is true. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
So instead of lowering ourselves to childish spats with strangers online, let’s rise up to the challenge. Let’s reject fake news that tries to divide us. Instead, let’s continue to work hard and contribute in our own way to making this country more vibrant, more resilient and more attractive. When we stand united, there is nothing we cannot overcome.
Because at the end of the day. What do stars do? They shine. And we have five stars and a crescent moon that shines brightly through these dark nights.
L.A.M.
