Category: ASEAN

Categories
ASEAN Conflict & disaster

[2613] Welcoming peace in Mindanao

Some peace is not worth it. A state that suppresses its citizens and others does not deserve peace for such peace only allows the state to continue to use its power to bully. Peace is sustainable only if rights are respected. No peace can stand with disrespect.

For other peace, it is worth the shot and it should be welcomed. One of such peace is the one almost everybody is shooting for in Mindanao. It is worth the shot because I do not think the government of Philippines is one comparable to that of Saddam Hussien of Iraq or al-Assad of Syria. Furthermore, the conflict has been going on for a long time much to the disadvantage of everybody in the Philippines, and possibly to Malaysia as well although arguably, Malaysia did benefit from the conflict given the context of the formation of Malaysia and the Filipino claim to Sabah in the early age of modern nation-states in Southeast Asia. The conflict in Mindanao essentially distracted the government of the Philippines from pursuing its claim more vigorously. Also, Malaysia, both the state and private citizens, had been naughty with respect to Mindanao in the past, just as they had with Aceh.

But that does not mean that there is no cost to Malaysia. Security in eastern Sabah had attracted attention in the past. The US government has issued travel warnings from time to time, which I think can be an unfair representation of Malaysia as a whole which is very safely relative to most neighboring countries. There have been several high-profile kidnapping cases in the past and this has caused the military to beef up its presence in that area. Whereas Malaysia could spend its resources on building up public infrastructure in Sabah, which is severely lacking compared to Peninsular Malaysia, the same resources went to security purposes. The security spending is necessary but it would have been great if it was not.

Another cost, which is bigger, has been illegal immigration into Sabah. I personally prefer assimilation for these immigrants because they have been here for such a long time. The cost of assimilation should be reasonably cheap compared to mass expulsion. I also think expulsion is an inhumane policy. I think we have a responsibility to welcome these immigrants as long as they are willing to work and become good residents. It is cruel to force them back in harm’s way.

But the politics in Sabah is murky and assimilation that a libertarian like me prefers is not a popular proposal among Sabahans. Some Sabahans hold almost racist (outright racist even?) view when it comes to the issue. So peace is one way which the problem of illegal immigration can be solved, even partially.

Peace is Mindanao may encourage some refugees to return home. Peace also may finally allow for economic development on the island and that may encourage economic migrants in Sabah to return home as well. Peace itself will encourage greater trade between Mindanao and the surrounding regions and that has to be good for Sabah and Malaysia.

But it is still to be seen if there will be peace in Mindanao despite the fanfare. A wholesome peace requires that the rebels are represented wholly and already there are fractions opposing the proposed deal. One hopes the rebelling fractions are only a minority, unpopular and unarmed. Unfortunately, it is quite clear that they are armed. Besides, how many broken peace deals were made in the past?

I also wonder though how will the effort at peace there will affect the Filipino claim to Sabah.

Categories
ASEAN History & heritage

[2367] From Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands

I meant to write this more than a year ago when Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that the Malaysian government agreed to relocate Keretapi Tanah Melayu’s terminus from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands. News that the Tanjong Pagar Station will finally close on July 1 encourages me to open up my archive of unfinished writings and finish this particular entry.

While the agreement has improved relations between Malaysia and Singapore, which is good, I was disappointed with the decision, and remains so today.

It is a disappointment because Tanjong Pagar is the last visible link that exists between the two countries, harking back to a time when Singapore was part of colonial Malaya and later modern Malaysia. It reminds Malaysians and Singaporeans alike that we share a common past. There was a dream unrealized; Singapore to Kuala Lumpur as New York to Washington D.C.

For regionalists who dream of a closer Southeast Asia, the link provides concrete infrastructure to that dream.

The dream will live on, even without Tanjong Pagar. And of course, the link is not severed at all. It is only shortened. Woodlands is still in Singapore after all.

Still, the link to Tanjong Pagar is special. It is special not just because of the past but also for what it can be. A high-speed train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will greatly enhance people-to-people interaction.

Even so, the KL-Singapore high-speed train link is only part of a bigger dream. Imagine a Penang-KL-Singapore link. Imagine a Bangkok-Penang-KL-Singapore link. Imagine bigger.

Of course. Of course. Of course there is still Woodlands. But the experience will be vastly different. Trains are not supposed to be like airports, detached from cities with all the associated hassle. Trains are supposed to be convenient. One embarks in a city only to disembark in another city.

Woodlands is nowhere. Like Changi. Like Sepang. Unlike Brickfields. Unlike Tanjong Pagar.

Categories
ASEAN Sports

[2293] Of Malaysia needs to win in Jakarta to win morally

I am happy that the Malaysian soccer team beat Indonesia by a large margin in the first leg of the Suzuki Cup final. This is especially so when Malaysia was beaten by 5 goals to 1 by Indonesia in the group stage earlier.

While I do believe that the team deserves the win — the play was surprisingly above the level Malaysia was typically associated with in the past — the 3-1 win in Kuala Lumpur is problematic.

Malaysian fans shot laser beam at Indonesian players. At some point in the game, the Indonesian team rightly protested and appeared to threaten to leave the game. They went off the pitch for more than 5 minutes under protest.

The Malaysian fans appeared to stop the unsportsmanlike behavior after the game resumed. It was after that that Malaysia overcame a crumbling Indonesian team.

The problem is that Indonesian fans are questioning the win, arguing that the laser beam incident somehow contributed to Malaysia’s win. In other words, they believe that Malaysia cheated.

I do not think Malaysia cheated. If I did, I would unfairly deny the effort the Malaysian players put into the game.

Those goals were fantastic. The first was clearly a mistake made by an Indonesia defender. He wanted the ball to go out but it did not. Malaysia capitalized on that. The second happened because Indonesia failed to mark Mohd Ashaari Shamsudin. The third was a good long pass that ended with the ball headed in.

It was not just the goals that symbolize the effort. In the second half, as far as soccer layperson like me can tell, Malaysia made fantastic passes while defending excellently. Malaysia in the second half was disciplined.

Nevertheless, I always believe the most satisfying win is one that is reasonably unquestionable by both sides of the fence. The 3-0 Malaysian win in Kuala Lumpur unfortunately is questioned by one side.

As a result, I hold that Malaysia needs to win the second leg of the match that will be held in Jakarta. If Malaysia won the away match, then it would make the first controversial win irrelevant. A win for Malaysia in Jakarta would be satisfying and enough to silent the critics from Indonesia.

If Malaysia lost in Jakarta but won on aggregate, then Malaysia would lose morally. Even a draw for Malaysia will not do. The only way Malaysia can win the tournament as well as achieve a moral win is by defeating Indonesia on their own turf.

Categories
ASEAN Conflict & disaster Politics & government

[2220] Of Jose Ramos Horta and Indonesia

Some rights reserved. By Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams.

The University hosted President Jose Ramos Horta of East Timor recently and I was lucky enough to get a seat for his speech. After Joseph Stiglitz, the President is the second ever Nobel Prize winner that I have had the opportunity to listen to first hand.

The speech was interesting, but it was not a memorable one. I am unable to recall too many points of the speech.

What I do remember the most is East Timor’s ties with Indonesia.

He is concerned with attempts at punishing Indonesia for past violence in East Timor. He said Indonesia should be given the room to face its own history. The context that Indonesia finds itself in should be understood and taken into account: it at one point came close to repeating the history of the Balkans. That is a painful part of modern Indonesian history. Raising it up would cause old woulds to reopen and ignite an unproductive and divisive debate.

Furthermore, this is not the best time to demand for justice. Such demand at this juncture or in the near future may risk whatever progress, which is a lot, Indonesia is making. He said, such demand would sap energy away from development. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia should not be burdened with an international controversy. The fire of nationalism should not be lighted up.

He believes that as Indonesia matures as a democracy, its society will address it eventually. I definitely think that such approach is better at attaining sustainable peace and good diplomatic relations. Although an exaggerated example, the problem of post-World War I Germany comes to mind with respect to effort to punish Indonesia. Keynes was right about Germany and the current President of East Timor may be right about Indonesia.

In other words, it is in East Timor’s interest to have Indonesia focused on its developmental agenda.

He also made it clear that any attempt to set up a tribunal to punish Indonesia would not get the support of East Timor.

And I thought, those were wise words. And I am on board.

Categories
ASEAN Conflict & disaster

[2208] Of here is to Thailand

A Malaysian diplomat once told me that among the neighbors of Malaysia, Thailand is our closest. He reasoned that despite stark difference in culture, Thailand has never been hostile to Malaysia, unlike Indonesia and the Philippines, which are supposedly our brothers. Thailand even helped Malaysia when the communist waged war against the federation.

And compared to Singapore, the sometimes fierce causeway rivalry is non-existent. He somehow forgot to mention Brunei but that is probably because unlike other neighbors, Brunei is not as important.

In return for Thailand’s reliable friendship, he firmly believes in the territorial integrity of Thailand. He chides Malay irredentism that exists in Malaysia and in southern Thailand.

I am unsure about Thailand being our closest friend, especially after seeing Thaksin Sinawatra in power. I remember that the Thaksin administration looked for a scapegoat in hope to divert attention away from him. He found Malaysia. A very close friend would not do that.

Nevertheless, I truly believe that a stable neighborhood is beneficial for Malaysia. That means stable and developing neighbors. As a regionalist, I believe in European-like integration for Southeast Asia. As such, I am happy that Indonesia has managed to sort its problems out after all these years. In the same vein, I am concerned with the situation in Thailand. Any effort of integration must take Thailand into account. After all, Thailand is the original six members of ASEAN.

A free and fair election is the solution for Thailand. Only a free and fair election will solve the problem of Thailand. Unless there is a free and fair election, a large section of Thai society will continue to question the legitimacy of the government of the day. And really, I find it hard to see how the current government is legitimate, even if the previous Thaksin-connected governments were unconvincing. A new mandate is required.

I was in Bangkok in 2006, just about four months before the military coup took place. I love the city and it breaks my heart to see such a beautiful city becoming a war zone. Streets that I have walked at this very moment have snipers readying to shoot. Protesters are fighting back. Smoke billows.

I do not intend to choose sides here. I do not have the appetite for such debate. In fact, the two sides of the divide do not appeal to me. All I hope all this will be resolved soon.

Here is to Thailand.

Some rights reserved. By Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams.