The politics of fear

Complaints by Umno Youth against the use of Malaysian air space by Singapore RSAF jet fighters, underlines what can be seen as the dynamics of size, or importantly the politics of feeling insecure.

By the sheer strength of size alone, coupled with its population and landmass, Malaysia would certainly come across as a middle-class power in Southeast Asia. Singapore is no match.

It is even a 'non-entity' because it is only 660 sq km in land space, its population is small, has nothing to bank on for survival; and should, for the record, forget about ever closing the gap with Malaysia.

So, based just on theory that reasoning makes Malaysia a middle-class power.

Reality however, belies a larger question, best answered with reference to how similar small cities in history like Troy, Pompeii and Sparta managed their relations with larger bigger neighbours.

They managed their relations not only from the basis of strong social cohesiveness, but matched it accordingly with strong armed forces. And this was further reinforced by a strong dose of nationalism distilled in the belief of believing in themselves.

Perhaps the only other country in a similar situation like Singapore, is Israel, whose strong army is mainly there for the sake of a 'strong' peace.

Singapore's problems are a little different. Unlike Israel, it is not in a state of war with its neighbours. To the contrary, Sinigapore enjoys good relations with its neighbours, because that has been the cornerstone of its approach, it is circumspect of how it deals with everybody in the region.

Respecting sensitivities

But, even as that forms the nation's guiding principle, the fact that history, geopolitics and cultural differences can sometimes find political expression; coupled with the fact that they are beyond one's control do not necessarily negate the reality that naivete can cause grave miscalculations.

That naivete apart, the sensitive negotiations with Malaysia on how Singapore's air force jets might be allowed to resume flights over Johor perpetuates an age-old security dilemma.

Why that lives on is largely, from lingering residue of mistrust when both cousins parted ways in the least amicable of ways.

As a result, every step, measure or initiative is now viewed as suspect. And what is suspect can range from Singaporeans snapping pictures of scenic spots in Malaysia, arriving in droves to shop in Johor or simply of a fighter plane from a neighbouring country, making an overland flight for lack of domestic space in its country.

That Singapore's air force is huge is part of the state's policy of having a 'poison shrimp' defence strategy, which in any case is intended to warn any larger country of the grave consequences that would follow if it is attacked.

Although the nation carries a big stick, it does not flaunt it because of the respect it has for sensibilities residing in the region.

As a matter of fact, a large part of its 350,000 strong army is stationed overseas to prevent alarming neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia from misreading the state's intentions.

Thus, in keeping faith with that policy, the state, according to its founding father Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, did not send any troops to war-torn Iraq, because apart from it being a conscript army, it would've been a move that may not have sat well with neighbours in the region.

As the state grapples with the knotty issue of space, it is helpful to understand that Singapore is only 660 sq km in land space. This tiny place is used to house its 4.4 million people, for businesses, for industry and also of course, for its armed forces.

Outsourcing military training

Because all these impose enormous strains on the nation, 25 percent of its 150 planes and helicopters are stationed overseas mainly in the United States, Australia and France, whilst its army regularly trains in Australia, Brunei, Taiwan, Thailand and New Zealand.

Recently, in the interest of seeking wider air space, Singapore shifted its entire basic jet-training unit to the air force base at Pearce near Perth, Western Australia.

All these and other confidence-building measures are done none other than to assuage concerns such as the ones expressed by Umno Youth or to suggestions that espionage is in store!

It is also designed to pre-empt the unwarranted protests that may come when a nation faced with space constraints has to strike a balance between its right to train whilst simultaneously showing respect for regional harmony.

In fact, so far removed is espionage that each time both Malaysia and Singapore collectively run joint military and war games; a celebratory mood ushers in, putting to paid notions of espionage.

Such episodes only suggest that the small like the big, collectively enjoy the peace brought by their respective armed forces. Something more than exemplified by the mutual trust between the armed forces of Singapore and Australia each time they train in each other's territories.

There are no questions about espionage even when officials inspect one another's weaponry. And that is considering how huge the Australian land mass is, and how organic training expeditions have become.

Quite a pity that Umno Youth could not see things the way the Australians, or anybody else for that matter, do.

There is absolutely nothing a small nation can do to a larger one like Malaysia. If anybody wants a second opinion, just ask Australia.