Outdated Reckless Foreign Policy Affecting Cameron Highland Farmers

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In his 22 years as fourth Prime Minister, it is not customary of Tun Dr Mahathir to participate in any by-election.

That practise is about to end as he announced plan to campaign at Cameron Highlands on 25th, a day before polling on January 26th and a day after Council of Rulers should make their decision on the new Agong.

Maybe he campaigned in earlier by-elections after GE 14, but this time he takes the trouble to devise a move to secure the Orang Asli votes by getting Attorney General Tommy Thomas to directly participate in a campaign to sue Kelantan government for infringing on the land rights of the Temiar Orang Asli.

Obviously, the PH campaign is not doing well and DAP's third attempt using the same non-local as candidate is repeatedly tripping. It is desperation and a homerun issue need to change the trend. More so, he need to win DAP's support to stay beyond March.

DAP strategy to focus on Orang Asli moves and consider the Chinese votes as taken could backfire. The current Malaysia-Singapore strained relation affected Chinese vegetable farmers and rental due to Malay land owners. Minister of Agriculture announced banned exports of fruits and vegetable and Singapore has resorted to the Phillipines.

On top of that, Cameron Highland Chinese farmers are angry with the rise in the cost of insecticides that raise their cost by 50%. Lim Guan Eng's disasterous management of the economy are hurting farmers' informal sources of funding. 

Politics-for-politics sake 


The lawsuit is a brilliant Mahathir political move. Though it is doubtful Mahathir will pursue it all the way, it may draw out the much needed Orang Asli votes for DAP. However, it is typical politics-for-politics sake move of Mahathir, the political animal.

For the sake of politics, he currently destroyed the Malaysian economy, severed the diplomatic goodwill developed under Najib administration, and made the farmers, fishermen and common folks suffer and send to poverty.

In the past, his politics reversed the progress his policies made for Bumiputera economics and for own selfish reasons, destabilised and destroyed the political party he led. It is the same for the present.

The lawsuit proves he has a deeply ingrained hatred and vengeance against Kelantan, PAS, and Malays at large in his psyche as highlighted repeatedly by this blog before GE14.

Mahathir's lawsuit will only open the floodgate for lawsuits for Malay reserve land improperly seized by government, and Sabah and Sarawak to sue for denying the two East Malaysian states the money they rightfully deserve. A freak of history prevented the two states a scheduled review meeting. Come Mahathir, he totally ignored and further infringed on the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

It will not be a surprise that Sarawak to pull out of Malaysia. The dedication of Clare Rewcastle Brown to pursue the Sarawak government could be part of a covert operation for the break-up.

Sabah could then follow suit. By then, all the remaining states that make-up Malaysia and was part of the MA 63 will have left by then due to the hands of Mahathir.

Mahathir's Singapore vengeance


Singapore was the first to get "kicked out" by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. They were accused of breaking a promise to hand-off in the politics of Malaya and Malaysia was to do the same of Singapore.

The relationship would naturally be challenging. Malaysia see relationship with Singapore as difficult. On the other hand, Singapore see Malaysia as difficult and irrational. In many issues raised by Malaysia against Singapore, Malaysia seldom fall short on its justification or got outwitted by Singapore's capability in researching history and complying with international law.

Malaysia lost to Singapore in the Pulau Batu Putih dispute. Despite being off the coast of Pontian, the former AG, Tan Sri Gani Patail failed to put together a credible case. He used an adulterated picture. Words are important documents was sent late to arrived at The Hague after the proceeding.

There was a window of opportunity for an appeal and Tan Sri Appandi Ali made the submission. After the GE 14, Mahathir made the decision singlehandedly before appointment of the Cabinet members to withdraw, thus wiping out any chance of getting back the Johor island.

It is unlikely to do with Singapore's PM being the second foreign leader to pay respect to the new PH Prime Minister. Mahathir was back to his usual antagonistic self to view Singapore with contempt and to spite the relationship rebuilt by Najib.

When he announced the withdrawal of Pulau Batu Putih appeal, he passed a remark Malaysia will do land reclamation till the border. Mahathir irked the Singaporeans with statement to revive the crooked bridge at the Tebrau Straits and call for a review the water deal with Singapore.

It is purely populism politics. It was his administration that failed to negotiate a good price for sales of Johor water and practically gave Singapore a large tract of Johor land for Singapore's water catchment.

Malaysia-Singapore tension

Malaysian government vessel and Singapore Police Coast Guard off Tuas on December 6th 2018 
In the past, Mahathir was instrumental to create an issue out of Malaysian airspace encroachment by Singapore's SAF.

The fact hidden from the public was that it was part of five nations defence agreement involving Malaysia, Singapore, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand that had been around after independence as an urgently needed defense for the then vulnerable Malaysia.

Apparently, Mahathir neither adhere to the agreement with regard to sharing of the airspace during his first term as PM nor dissolve the agreement. But, politicise it to the hilt, especially during Pak Lah's tenure as PM.

All the while he collaborted to allow Singapore to provide radar cover and information sharing with Malaysia for the South China Sea military security.

The sudden issue on the commercial airspace raised by Malaysia Baru Transport Minister, Anthony Loke that will affect Singapore's Seletar Airport in mid-December came as a surprise and rather untimely.

Singapore side of the story is that it was based on an agreement made in 1973. and have kept Malaysian CAA in the know since end of 2017. Is it another case of Malaysia not doing its howework?

Well, Malaysia Baru Foreign Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah insisted. 

Then came another one from Loke on maritime border announcement in October following port extension by Johor Port. Its root goes back to 2002 (wonder who was PM?). Malaysia never recognised the area claimed as Singapore territory

Singapore claimed Malaysia did not made claims on the disputed areas since 1979 thus considered MB Johor's visit of the disputed area in Tuas as encroachment. 

Not only Malaysia irked Singapore with Mahathir's iritating remarks, but Mahathir pulled out of the land deal to resolve the KTM land in Singapore issue which Najib managed to resolve admirably in favour of Malaysia.

Mahathir directed Khazanah Nasional to sell the land agreed for the majority owned joint development with Singapore's Temasek. Anything that has Najib's touch are to be cancelled without consideration for the benefit to the country's foreign investment or sovereignty. Such is the vengeful Mahathir.
   
Singapore disagreed with Loke's statement and immediately retaliated. Their Navy followed suit to send asset to Tuas.

Blurred Foreign Minister


The tension was serious and could have been resolved had it been others as Foreign Minister. Saifuddin was only interested to talk to the media than seeking backdoor solution with his counterpart. He is more interested to gain local attention, preserve his ego and maybe raise his political profile. 

In the heat of the encounter, Saifuddin tried naively to cool the situation to say everything is well with Singapore.

Malaysians are not stupid and unaware of Singaporeans not holding back of their critics of Malaysia. Saifuddin was blasted by a former Singaporean diplomat, Bilahari Kausikan and made to look stupid on his FB:
“You have to admire the Malaysian foreign minister’s ctuzpah: You create a problem, when we respond to defend our interests, you say that the solution to the problem you created in the first place is for us to cease defending our interests and to accept equal responsibility for the problem. Sorry bro. Good try, but no cigar. We are not stupid.”But, he himself asked Singapore to not send asset to Tuas. Saifuddin denied his Ministry gave permission to MB Johor to inspect the area. This is one comment:




At the time it was happening, Mat Sabu was keeping silence, and enjoying snacks of noodles. However, Mat Sabu showed his diplomacy prowess to settle issues with his Indonesian counterpart after Saifuddin messed up with unnecessary strong words to "condemn" Indonesia.

Saifuddin media craze antics continued with statements to comment Mahathir's meeting with Sultan Johor has nothing to do with the dispute and stating the unnecessary obvious that next move on airspace issue will be after the next meeting.

He made another announcement to dispel Dato Seri Anifah Aman's advise to talk directly to Singapore through backdoor channel and indirectly referring also to Mahathir to put ego aside (full statement at end of posting).



Now the numbnut admitted of escalating tension to the situation earlier described as no problem and no issue. Again, he said relationship with Singapore as good.

This statement is obviously for the Cameron Highland by-election.

Cameron Highland should say enough


In the meanwhile, Singapore postphoned the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia scheduled for the January 14th. If Khazanah not willing to develop land compensated for KTM jointly with Temasek, why would Singapore want to support Iskandar?

Sin Chew reported planned Chinese New Year shopping tours by Singaporeans were cancelled. The Star did their bidding for DAP to sell their newspaper by reporting Singaporeans still shop in Johor Baru.

It means the Cameron Highland's Chinese vegetable farmers, who are used to high margin sales to Singapore, are facing financial strain. Their workers are Chinese, Indians, Malay and Orang Asli voters of Cameron Highlands will face the fallout.

It is only one of numerous cases, with China being the most prominent, of Mahathir's foreign policy disasters that severely affecting the peoples' livelihood. As former diplomats were saying recently, Mahathir's foreign policy is outdated and belong to the cold war era. 

Mahathir practically quarreled with all the nations of the world.

It is opportunistic for Cameron Highland voters to send signal on behalf of the general Malaysian voters, whose been lied too with their empty promises in the manifesto and on the real situation of the country, to teach PH a lesson.

A loss for PH will not change the federal government but it helps tell them that Malaysians had enough with their excessive politicking and witch hunting to cover-up their failure.

More so, it is better to give BN a win to save taxpayers money from the coast of another by-election.

PH win will be protested and the court would surely call for another by-election. They have broken several election by-laws such as threatening voters, bribing voters (in which the earlier BN winner was accused and penalised of), abusing government assets and agencies, and campaign on lies and slanders.

The racial make-up in Cameron Highlands is 33.7% Malay, 29.7% Chinese, 14.9% Indians and 21.7% Orang Asli. With PAS supporting BN candidate, Malay votes should be for BN. Indian cold be split due to MIC presence, Indian candidacy and minimal Kayveas factor.

DAP presumed Chinese votes are solid and focused their campaign on Orang Asli and Malay voters. The Chinese voters would be giving Malaysia a favour to do a surprise and make PH buck-up. They can't continue with their deceptive politics and should admit that they screwed up big time!

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KENYATAAN AKHBAR OLEH YB DATO' SRI ANIFAH HAJI AMAN MENGENAI HUBUNGAN DIPLOMASI ANTARA MALAYSIA DAN SINGAPURA

17 Januari 2019

Saya merasa terpanggil untuk menyampaikan pandangan berkaitan isu dua hala antara Malaysia dengan Singapura yang telah menjadi berita sensasi dalam media kedua-dua negara.

Sewaktu saya melaksanakan amanah selaku Menteri Luar Negeri Malaysia, saya juga seringkali berhadapan dengan pelbagai cabaran dalam mengurus hubungan bilateral dengan negara tetangga kita.

Walaupun banyaknya dugaan dan halangan, kita sentiasa dapat mengharungi semua ujian dengan tenang dan berkesan.

Negara jiran tetangga sering memuji kecekapan dan kebijaksanaan diplomasi yang kita tonjolkan. Sudah tentunya ia merupakan hasil rundingan dan usaha diplomatik disebalik tabir oleh pegawai-pegawai Wisma Putra yang bekerja tanpa mengira masa yang telah membuahkan kejayaan cemerlang bagi negara.

Wisma Putra memainkan peranan penting dalam menangani isu-isu rumit dunia diplomasi. Hasil rundingan di peringkat pegawai dibawa ke pertimbangan Menteri Luar Negeri sebelum diputuskan oleh Perdana Menteri.

Sekiranya kata putus gagal dicapai, maka usaha-usaha lain akan dilaksana membawa isu berkaitan ke pengadilan atau tribunal antarabangsa. Usaha seperti ini sudah tentu dilakukan secara berhemah dan bijaksana.

Kita tidak seharusnya dan dengan sewenang wenangnya melakukan sebarang tindakan provokasi atau membiarkan sesiapa sahaja tanpa maklumat serta latar belakang yang kukuh  memberikan komen tanpa memikirkan akan kesan dari tindakan seperti itu.

Dunia diplomasi juga melibatkan aspek multilateral yang menuntut kerjasama antara negara. Kita menghargai dan memandang tinggi pada kerjasama serantau terutamanya ASEAN.

Singapura adalah salah satu rakan Malaysia yang sering menjadi sekutu yang rapat dalam memperjuangkan pendirian dalam isu-isu multilateral dan antarabangsa dimana Malaysia dan Singapura mempunyai nilai-nilai persamaan.

Nilai dan elemen seperti inilah yang perlu diambilkira dalam menjalinkan hubungan diplomatik yang sihat. Janganlah kerana keegoaan kita memusnahkan apa yang telah dibina selama ini.

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