Appendix D - Singapore Businessmen's Comments on Singapore-Malaysia Relations

Summary

The Business Times interviewed some top management from companies in Singapore on whether they saw an improvement in people to people ties across the Causeway, and how can such ties be improved, in particular with respect to business in particular. The following are some responses that appeared in the Business Times on 23 May 2005.

Poh Mui Hoon (CEO, Nets): Malaysia and Singapore have had close ties for as long as anyone can remember. Our people share a great deal historically and culturally. Many of us have colleagues, friends and family on both sides of the Causeway. Moreover, trade — particularly between private enterprises — has been flourishing for decades and we value one another as important trading partners. Malaysians and Singaporeans spend tens of millions of dollars in each other's shops, hotels and restaurants every year. Johor Baru alone welcomes an estimated one million Singaporeans every month. I believe the recent relaxation of regulations allowing businesses to cooperate, compete and take stakes in important but sensitive sectors such as banking and telecommunications will further improve social and economic links. Indeed, my company is actively pursuing opportunities with Malaysian partners that allow Singaporeans the security and convenience of using their Nets cards to withdraw cash and make purchases across the Causeway. We are simultaneously working to enable Malaysian visitors to our shores to enjoy the same privileges with their local bank cards. I believe the enormous economic benefits will continue to be the primary driver of moves to further strengthen relations between Singapore and Malaysia. This economic imperative will help us find practical solutions for long-standing and potentially divisive issues.

Joey Chang (CEO, AXS Infocomm): I can see in my business dealings in Malaysia that the attitude of the business executives are getting friendlier towards Singapore and Singaporeans. In general, the people are always nice. But the feeling I get, and some Malaysian contacts shared this with me, is that they are never too keen to engage services or business from Singapore companies, if they can. I believe this stems mostly from the competitive nature that defines our relationship and the fact that we, as their closest neighbour, are seen as their ‘main rival’.