Singapore government keeps mum on Wahid outburst

November 27, 2000
Web posted at: 11:23 AM HKT (0323 GMT)

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- The Singaporean government maintained a diplomatic silence on Monday following an outburst by Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid accusing it of taking advantage of Indonesia's troubles and caring only about profits.

The Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment, and Singapore's leading newspaper, the pro-government Straits Times, relegated Wahid's attack to its inside pages.

But its sister paper, the Business Times, reported Wahid's remarks on its front page and said in a commentary that it could mark a dangerous shift in Indonesia's foreign policy.

Wahid told a gathering of Indonesians in Singapore on Saturday that the largely Chinese island state was anti-Malay and ignored its bigger, poorer neighbour except when there is money to be made.

"Basically, Singaporeans despise Malays, we are considered non-existent," Wahid said. "They just look after themselves, all they just look for are profits."

Despite the subdued official reaction, Wahid's comments have the potential to ignite tensions.

The Singaporean government prides itself on its efforts to build a cohesive, multi-racial nation. Although they have shared in the city state's prosperity, some Malays complain that they remain mistrusted and that their voices are not heard.

Business Times columnist Yang Razali Kassim said Wahid's tongue-lashing seemed to confirm what was an already incipient shift in Jakarta's attitude towards Singapore and, to an extent, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Hitherto warm towards Singapore leaders, Gus Dur's about-face could portend a dangerous shift in foreign policy which could split ASEAN at a time when the grouping is trying hard to forge greater cohesion and unity to face the growing economic competition from Northeast Asia," Yang Razali wrote.

Gus Dur is the popular name for Wahid, who once warned Singapore not to let its submarines cross into Indonesian waters. He is noted for his off-the-cuff remarks.

Uneasy relations

Wahid said Indonesia and Malaysia could even use their positions as Singapore's principal water suppliers to push their interests. "If we hold the water for a moment, they will have no water to drink," he said.

Often prickly bilateral relations had improved after Wahid took over from former President B.J. Habibie, who once derided Singapore as "that unfriendly little red dot."

But Wahid was apparently angered by Singapore's rejection of his call for East Timor and Papua New Guinea to be admitted to the 10-member ASEAN, which wrapped up its annual summit on Saturday in Singapore.

Yang Razali said the proposal made sense insofar as East Timor and Papua New Guinea fall directly within Jakarta's sphere of influence.

But Wahid's suggestion that Australia and New Zealand should also be included in a new West Pacific forum was baffling given the opposition at home to both countries due to their role in the eventual breakaway of East Timor from Indonesia.

"...if anything, this whole new episode manifests a worrying nascent trend -- the lack of a clear or coherent foreign policy, at least as it relates to Southeast Asia," Yang Razali said.

"This is something that will continue until Indonesia's domestic politics are ironed out, and a period of stability and certainty returns to Southeast Asia's biggest member," he added.

Wahid faces mounting pressure at home to quit or be impeached, accused of economic incompetence and bad leadership and dogged by embarrassing financial scandal, a shaky coalition and his failure to end communal and religious violence that has killed thousands.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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