Singapore Shots - Part 2

Malaysia and Singapore. These 2 countries have been occupying my mind in the last 6 weeks or so.

Ever since the group of Singapore Hot Shots came to see the Young People's Club and expressed an intention to strengthen ties, between the 2 countries. Ever since Mel (from the Singapore Hot Shots side) and I came up with this idea of the shared history project. Ever since I've been reading stuff about the separation of Malaysia and Singapore - the inevitable political tragedy.

And just a few days ago, I was watching a joint Malaysian-Singaporean theatre production called "Separation 40" which revolved around scenarios prior, during and after, the separation between Malaysia and Singapore. I went with Mel and the Singapore Sizzler. Ahem! ;)

It was great seeing local talents like Jit Murad, Zahim Al-Bakri and Soefira Jaffar combine with some of the Singaporean (or Singaporean-based Malaysian talents) across the Causeway - the talent pool was deeply enriched and the contrasting styles of directing, acting and storytelling gave the whole endeavour a certain freshness of perspective.

It was a heavy topic - but they handled it in a light enough fashion, to keep the crowd from getting bored and bogged down, with the seriousness of the context.

Overall, it was entertaining and sufficiently thought-provoking - although in typical theatrical style - they preferred to present subtle and neutral human scenarios, as opposed to taking a perspective on the issue or being historically accurate. But it achieved its target of being entertaining - the script was strong and the acting execution (especially, the multifarious use of the props) and chemistry between the actors, was excellent.

After the show, the post-show review with the audience was educational for me. Except for the fact that the room was virtually full of young Singaporeans, (except for yours truly), the response was similar, to what I would expect it to be in KL.

They wanted to know more facts about the Separation. (Singapore history classes only takes 1965, as its starting point, conveniently leaving out anything that happened between 1962 to 1965). They wanted to know more about what led to Singapore's ouster from Malaysia.

They wanted to know more about racial riots and its underlying reasons. They wanted to understand the differences between the Malay and the Chinese and the struggle for political and economic dominance. They wanted to know why a country with so many family linkages from both sides of the Causeway - was arbitrarily ripped in two.

The young in Singapore are as much in the dark as the ones in Malaysia are, if not more. At least historically. The only history they know of Malaysia are inherited, together with the prejudices from their parents' generation.

They may hate or dislike Malaysia and the way it runs - but they're not actually sure why. They've been told to believe so - that there was only Singapore's way and any other way that contravened that - is the wrong way. It's twisted indoctrination without pure debate on the issues - as to whether certain things were not meant to be, as naive and optimistic leaders rushed about to their objectives, without first persuading the people, to follow them.

It will take time to strengthen ties with Singapore, even on a people to people basis. Not because they don't really like us, but they just don't know us. And mental prejudices build up walls between one side and the other, stopping them from extending a hand in friendship.

Being the only Malaysian audience there, I decided to put across my views on the play and commended them on taking on this timely joint endeavour, when the young ones on both sides of the Causeway are hungry to explore the truth for themselves, as opposed to being told what the truth is.

Mel approved, Sizzler was impressed and I had a short chat with the amazing Zahim Al-Bakri, who was 1 of 2 directors for the play, the other being a Singaporean.

But after reading the relevant books and watching "Separation 40" and having a frank discussion with members of the Singapore Hotshots, the conclusion I've drawn are as follows:-

1) It's not the Separation that was a mistake, it was the merger of convenience, due to both countries' fear of Communism. Malaysia and Singapore never had common ideas or perspectives of what it meant to be a nation and how to bring it forward. Each side tried to push their ideology, before their peoples were ready to accept it.

2) That personalities can make or break a country, as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Lee Kuan Yew, Tun Tan Siew Sin and Syed Jaafar Albar, did;

3) That being extremely talented in politics, as Lee Kuan Yew was, could be threatening to others, in a system where there were many inferior leaders at the upper echelon. Sometimes being modest and of low-profile, is better than being clever and boisterous (KJ take note, learn from history);

4) That change takes time and in a democracy, you must allow others the time to be persuaded and not run rougshod over them and try to implement something, which they've had very little say or contemplation, over;

5) That so much has changed, but yet so little has between the Malay and Chinese community in both KL and Singapore. In some ways, we still act as we did - 40 years ago. And that shows that, we still have a long way to go.


"Separation 40" will be coming to KL on the 29th, I've been told. Go catch it, if you can. It will be an education, I promise.