S'pore, Malaysia have kept big picture in mind, made good progress: SM Lee

Singapore and Malaysia have a close but inherently complex relationship. And while the two neighbours have not always agreed on every issue, they have made good progress because leaders on both sides have generally been able to keep the big picture in mind, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on July 21.

- Kok Yufeng

In a speech to the Kuala Lumpur Business Club, SM Lee said this complexity is why leaders and governments of both countries have to take a strategic perspective and manage issues sensitively, from the point of view of the overall relationship.

"They have to be aware of the potential difficulties and pitfalls, but at the same time, be alert to the tremendous dividends, provided we can navigate around the problems and work together," said SM Lee, who was on an official visit to Malaysia.

At the heart of why the relationship is complex is how the two countries came together in difficult circumstances, followed by a separation that was traumatic for both sides and unforgettable for that generation of Singaporeans and Malaysians.

"We need to understand that while the passions may subside, the underlying fundamental issues that complicate our relationship have not gone away," he said.

This includes the fact that the two societies are inverse images of each other Singapore is majority ethnic Chinese and minority Malay and others, while Malaysia is majority Malay and minority Chinese and others and have taken radically different approaches to building multiracial societies, added SM Lee.

"Things that either side does things that we take for granted within our own societies - can easily raise eyebrows and be misinterpreted by the other side, and can cause misunderstanding or unhappiness every now and then," he said.

Besides the structural difference to both societies, there are difficult bilateral issues for which win-win solutions cannot be easily found, he noted.