CONTRARY to Professor Kishore Mahbubani's call ("S'pore's challenge: 'Be confident while being paranoid'"; Tuesday), there is no need to be unnecessarily paranoid, as we have a hard-working population and a forward-looking and forward-planning Government.
However, we have to get our fundamentals and bearings right, to face a challenging future.
Singapore has historically been linked to the Malayan hinterland for its survival and prosperity.
This was the raison d'etre for it to seek merger.
Even with separation from Malaysia, trade and commerce with that country continues to make up a critical portion of our economy and its growth.
Singapore's continued growth cannot be secured by just globalisation and our strategic importance.
As our neighbouring countries catch up and advance, our importance to the United States and the European Union, in particular, will increasingly decline in proportion.
The big populations of our neighbours provide huge export markets for Western countries. These countries are also providers of natural resources.
Tiny and resourceless Singapore is likely to be sacrificed when it comes to larger markets and self-interests.
Relinking with the Malaysian mainland or having common market arrangements with that country or with Asean is an option we may have to consider in the long term, should the need arise.
The fact that Singapore currently has excellent relations with Malaysia may possibly be a good pointer to how Singapore can plan a future for its people, should the international scene turn sour, to the detriment of our nation.
K. Kalidas
However, we have to get our fundamentals and bearings right, to face a challenging future.
Singapore has historically been linked to the Malayan hinterland for its survival and prosperity.
This was the raison d'etre for it to seek merger.
Even with separation from Malaysia, trade and commerce with that country continues to make up a critical portion of our economy and its growth.
Singapore's continued growth cannot be secured by just globalisation and our strategic importance.
As our neighbouring countries catch up and advance, our importance to the United States and the European Union, in particular, will increasingly decline in proportion.
The big populations of our neighbours provide huge export markets for Western countries. These countries are also providers of natural resources.
Tiny and resourceless Singapore is likely to be sacrificed when it comes to larger markets and self-interests.
Relinking with the Malaysian mainland or having common market arrangements with that country or with Asean is an option we may have to consider in the long term, should the need arise.
The fact that Singapore currently has excellent relations with Malaysia may possibly be a good pointer to how Singapore can plan a future for its people, should the international scene turn sour, to the detriment of our nation.
K. Kalidas
