SINGAPORE: It is vital for Malaysia and Singapore to continue sharing information whenever possible so that both countries can better protect their borders against terrorism, says Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence Zaqy Mohamad (pic).
He cited the example of drones used in the Russo-Ukrainian War, noting that seemingly harmless items can become dangerous in the wrong hands.
“There are different ways in which terrorists can take very simple items that can be non-violent and turn them into things that cause a lot of damage. There are a lot of dual-use items like drones which, in the wrong hands, can do a lot of damage,” Zaqy explained, adding that he discussed evolving terrorist tactics with Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in a recent meeting.
He pointed out that both countries have effective cooperation in maritime security, particularly in the Strait of Malacca or sea lines of communication.
“Counter-terrorism is also important for us, especially after what happened in Johor recently,” said Zaqy, referring to the recent attack at a police station in Ulu Tiram.
Zaqy was speaking to a media delegation during the Malaysian Journalists’ Visit Programme to Singapore recently.
On Asean, Zaqy praised the platform for fostering regular discussions among defence ministers on shared interests and areas of cooperation, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Regarding the Palestine issue, Zaqy affirmed continued support for the Palestinian cause, saying, “I have been involved in some of these humanitarian relief efforts too and followed our air force to Jordan last March where we did airdrops into Gaza.
“You can support, you can raise funds, but we have to make a very big distinction between terrorism and supporting armed violence versus humanitarian efforts, supporting the cause and a two-state solution,” he said, adding that Singapore has had cases of self-radicalisation as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Zaqy noted that Singapore has supported all positions on the conflict voted on in the United Nations and acknowledged global frustration over the lack of progress.
On Malaysian workers in Singapore, Zaqy said Singapore is an open economy and a free market with Malaysians working across various levels.
“At the Work Pass level, you’ll find Malaysian workers in our food and beverage outlets. At the S-Pass level, we have technicians, and at the professional levels, lawyers, bankers and doctors too,” he said.
He added that different sectors have different ratios of local workers to foreigners, such as construction, which has a ratio of one local worker to five foreigners due to Singaporeans’ limited involvement in that sector.
“So it’s different across sectors and we have to find a balance. Some sectors have a bit more leeway; some sectors have to have tighter quotas,” he said.
Zaqy clarified that there are no special incentives for hiring Malaysians, although the ease of hiring them compared to workers from other countries is notable.
He said a significant number of Malaysians are in Singapore, similar to other countries like China, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe.
“So I think that’s part and parcel of the labour market. But the exchange rate makes a difference too,” he said.
Addressing Singapore’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, Zaqy explained that some sectors are still dealing with backlogs or are driven by current demand.
He noted much of the observed growth is part of the recovery process, with ongoing growth in health, technology, banking, and manufacturing sectors.
