By Jalil Hamid and Wee Sui Lee
(Reuters) -- Singapore and Malaysia are once again bickering over race
relations, raising the political heat in a region scarred by ethnic
conflict, but the mood on the street is strangely indifferent.
The island of Singapore is home to mostly ethnic Chinese, while the
population of its big neighbor to the north is mainly ethnic Malay.
The two races have a long history of tension and sometimes violence.
The latest row was sparked by Singapore's patriarch, Lee Kuan Yew, who
accused Malaysia and Indonesia at a public forum of "systematically
marginalizing" their Chinese minorities.
Malaysia, which has a large Chinese minority, is especially angry and
demanded an apology from former premier Lee, 83. Former Malaysian
premier Mahathir Mohamad also joined in, accusing Singapore of
marginalizing minority Malays.
Lee did apologize to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
for the "discomfort" caused by his remarks. But he did not retract the
comments, prompting an icy response from Kuala Lumpur to the apology.
While their leaders bicker, reaction from people on the streets of the
two countries is muted.
Both minorities -- Chinese in Malaysia and Malays in Singapore --
appear tired of racial politics and deny they are being held back by
their respective governments.
"It's not true that we are sidelined. The Chinese can live comfortably
in this country," said a 65-year-old fabric-seller in Kuala Lumpur's
Chinatown. He would only give his name as Lee.
"We can earn a decent living here," added Goh Mia Lee, 46, as he
tended the counter of a small grocery store.
The official Malaysian figures support him.
Chinese make up 25 percent of the Malaysian population but own about
40 percent of the stock market. Chinese households earn an income
almost twice that of the average Malay household.
Malaysia's Chinese may be at the margins of political power -- the
Malay ruling party bars Chinese from joining and there is virtually no
prospect of a Malaysian Chinese becoming premier -- but they are at
the center of business and the economy.
It is this very success at creating wealth that is at the source of
racial tensions and has been since Chinese came to work in
colonial-era Malaya's tin mines more than a century ago.
The same is also true of racial tensions in Indonesia, where Chinese
merchants were the target of racial violence in 1998.
'Sons of the soil'
Malaysia and Singapore came together as one in 1963 but the troubled
union lasted just two years before Singapore's Lee walked out of the
Malaysian Federation after squabbling between his Chinese-dominated
party and the main Malay party.
In 1969, economic disparities between Malays and Chinese were blamed
for race riots that killed hundreds in Malaysia.
Malays still refer to Chinese at times as outsiders and to themselves
as "sons of the soil". In Malaysia, they remain wary of the Chinese
making political advances and have kept a stranglehold on power since
independence from Britain in 1957.
Malaysia has pursued pro-Malay affirmative action for three decades,
but they still lag behind the Chinese in terms of wealth.
"In certain areas, the Malay situation needs more attention," said
political analyst Chandra Muzaffar. "In the corporate sector, the
Malay and Indian participation are quite small."
He said Malaysia on the whole had done quite well in managing race
relations, though tensions were inevitable. "In a multi-racial
society, you can't run away from it. It's a very, very complex issue
if you look at the ethnic mix," he said.
In Singapore, Malays also rate poorly on important measures.
Malays there make up 13 percent of the population but represent barely
three percent of university graduates. Malay household income lags
both the Chinese and Indian communities.
Mahathir has accused Singapore of sidelining its Malay minority,
noting the city state prevents Malays from serving in sensitive
military posts. Ordinary Malays in Singapore do grumble about some
policies but many don't see themselves as victims.
"I definitely think Singapore's better than Malaysia in terms of
racial equality, but mindsets here have to be improved," said
20-year-old Malay student Hana Suri, when stopped on Singapore's Arab
Street and asked about Mahathir's criticisms.
Arab Street is at the center of Singapore's Malay community, which is
predominantly Muslim. It is overlooked by a mosque and its shops sell
Muslim head-scarves, robes and prayer mats. The area was once the home
of Malay royalty.
Another Malay student, Rabiatul Adawiya, 22, also felt Mahathir was
wrong: "I have had equal opportunities in education, the meritocratic
system here definitely works."
Lee and Mahathir, old sparring political partners, have retired as
leaders, but the two nations continue to bicker over issues dating
back four decades.
"I hope for the leaders to say something smarter," said Muhammad
Hafez, as he walked along Arab Street. "How would ageing politicians
who are not on the streets know what's going on?"
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