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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 38, No. 12. June 4 1975
News from Malaysia & Singapore
News from Malaysia & Singapore
3—5—75
Tun: Watch For Gun Runner
Tun Abdul Razak is concerned that the fall of Indochina would result in millions of dollars' worth of the latests American weapons falling into the hands of the insurgents in South East Asia and other parts of the world. He indicated that he did not fear the new communist government in Saigon would channel arms captured from, or abandoned by the Americans to the terrorists in Malaysia. He was concerned that they would reach Malaysia from smugglers acting for profit. Tun Razak said that notwithstanding the debacle in Vietnam, he was still not a subscriber to the Domino Theory of successive Washington administrators — that if one country fell to a communist war of liberation, its neighbours would automatically be threatened.
(The Vietnamese people will definitely put their arms into good use. Razak is trying desperately to put up a brave face in front of the press.)
5—5—75
'Red Victories Pose No Threat'
Malaysia "faces no immediate danger" arising out of the Communist victories in South Vietnam and Cambodia, Tun Abdul Razak said. Thus is because the situation in Indochina and that in Malaysia is different. The people of Indochina fought for national liberation from foreign influence and domination while the terrorists in Malaysia were "pure bandits", said Razak. He added that if the terrorists believed in the democratic process and were so keen to serve the people, they should lay down [unclear: their] arms under conditions of peace and [unclear: resort] to armed struggle.
(Is Malaysia truly an independent country, free from foreign domination and influence when 60% of us economy is under foreign contracts there a democratic process whereby the people are allowed to express their views with the repressive laws of the Malaysian government of ISA, University and Colleges Act etc.?)
2—5—75
Excerpts of Lee's Speech in Kingston
Singapore has the world's third largest oil refineries, after Rotterdam and Houston. Pre-October 1973, the demand growth rate was 8-10% over the last quarter of 1972.
In many cases, the poorer the country, the richer the leader or leaders. But it's not just the poor Third World countries that face the danger of more and more revolution.
Now Indochina has gone to the communists. Providing the rest of South East Asia understands that the priority is first to eradicate inequalities of wealth and opportunities, to reduce social injustice, and inculcate work-dicipline, we can make the adjustments to this new social order.
(Despite the impressive growth rate and being the third largest oil refinery in the world, the fact that is not so well-known is that 99.9% of the oil refinery is foreign owned.
Lee is a [unclear: gre at] speaker, a man with many promises, but what he says and implements are entirely different things. He has ruled Singapore since 1959, and ever since the rich have become richer and the poor poorer).
7—5—75
Lee on Peril of Too Swift US Pullout
Mr Lee Kuan Yew yesterday came out strongly against too swift an American military retreat from Asia because this would let Russia in. He described China as "The more benign of the Communist powers" with no territorial ambitions on Thailand. But if Thailand used Russia "as a counter-weight to China it would bring about the very evil they seek to avoid, meaning more guerilla pressure". Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia all had to contend with rebel groups, Mr Lee said, but he noted help from Vietnam would have to come across 500 to 700 mites of water. The main problem worrying these countries, he stressed, was economic because unemployment and recession would only feed popular discontent.
12—5—75
Oppositions Reach Agreement in By-Election.
K.L. — Agreement was reached between opposition parties to fight the National Front at the parliamentary by-election of the Salyang seat fallowing the death of the National Front MP Mr Walter Loh. The candidates for the by-election is likely to be fielded from either Party Pekemas or DAP, as both Partai Sosialis Rakyat and KITA have agreed not to contest in favour of the two.
13—5—75
10-point Row, so 250 go on strike
[unclear: About] 250 workers of Far East Oxygen Pty. Ltd. in Jurong went on strike after talks between their union and company over the settlement of 10 disputes broke down. It is understood that the dispute involved several warning letters issued to workers in connection with annual leave, sick leave and compassionate leave. Allegations of victimization of workers and union officials and the dismissal of legitimate complaints by the union were also believed to be among the disputes.
15—5—75
Start of British Military Pullout
The British troops withdrawal from Singapore has begun. The target is to pull out 2,250 British servicemen stationed here under the Five-Power Defence Arrangement, in four gradual phases ending on March 31, 1976. After complete withdrawal, it is expected that ships of the Royal Navy will continue to call at Singapore "in the course of deployments to the Far East". It is believed that unions representing local civilian employees of the British forces are currently consulting their employers and the Singapore government a about pending unemployment and redundancy. The main aim of the British pullout is to cut back defence expenditure to save the ailing British economy.
9—5—75 to 19—5—75
A Close Contest Likely for Top UMNO Posts.
The election to the policy-making Supreme Council of United Malay National Organization (UMNO) on June 21 are expected to be closely contested.
For example, it is understood that at least 15 nominations have been received for the three vice-president posts.
UMNO Youth national leader Dato Haji Harun Idris might also join in the fight if it is in the national interest, he said.
UMNO secretary-general Datuk Senu Abdul Rahman has issued a directive to all UMNO divisions advising members to refrain from making speeches or remarks which might affect party unity and image in the current election campaign.
Information and Special Functions Minister Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen advised UMNO members not to alarmed by any war of nerves among its leaders. He said there were always differences among leaders, but such rational conflicts always resulted with improvement of the party.
22—5—75
Singapore: Crisis in Electronics
The Electronics industry in Singapore has reached rock-bottom level and the current outlook spells a bleak prospect for next year.
At least three electronics forms have closed down because of extremely poor market demands while eight other firms shifted their operations out of Singapore.
Describing the electronics business here as "stagnant", Mr Brian Lee, secretary of the Singapore Association of Electronics Industry, said there has not been any sign of recovery.
About 17,000 people were retrenched last year — two thirds of them from the electronics industry. Some 24,570 unemployed people registered for jobs with the Labour Ministry's Employment Service Section. About 7,000 job vacancies were found for them.
25—5—75
Minister: Don't expect too Much from MCA
Housing and New Villages Minister Mr Michael Chen urged all Chinese guilds, clubs and other organizations to stand together with the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) for the benfit of the Chinese community.
'This is the only way the Chinese can be united and work towards their progress and development as well as towards nation-building," he said.
Mr Chen asked the Chinese community not to expect too much from the MCA. "The MCA is not the dominant party within the National Front," he said. "In tact it is only playing a helping role."
(Mr Chen speaks at the time when there is serious disagreement between the MCA and the National Chinese Teacher Association Board of Directors over the future of Chinese Primary schools.
The National Chinese Teacher Association and the Board of Directors insist, with the backing of over 3,400 Chinese organizations, that Chinese language should be, as it is fact is, the tuition language in the Chinese Primary Schools with Malay and English as secondary languages, while the MCA advocates a policy alongside of the government that Malay is the dominant language at all levels of education.)