With Badawi at the helm, and Najib being the next in line for the Malaysian PM seat - unless age prevents him from doing so- we can see at least another ten years of positive and stable political stewardship of such a relationship between Singapore that will be in total contrast to the acrimonious Mahathir era.
The present Malaysian leadership has shown themselves to be different from the previous administrations, when they have viewed with serious conciousness to the narrow extremist and racist rhetoric during its UMNO General Assembly meeting.
Both Badawi and Najib had gone out of their way to address the strong reactions from the other Malaysian ethnic groups, and both have shown that politics in Malaysia will have to change from its heady days of dominance of one race over all others.
The present leaders in the Malaysian Federal Government will rein in the outspoken and unstable political personalities - such as the tough talking Menteri Besar of Johor, who is also the head of UMNO Johor, and have insisted that Malays must be the pivotal race in any Malaysian political arrangement.
Singapore's leaders should positively respond and take this opportunity to bridge the political divide, now that the hand of friendship - and hopefully of reason - has been extended on Malaysia's own initiatives.
Singapore should help Badawi and Najib to strengthen their hands to steer Malaysia from the "old politics" to a newer path of political enlightenment, in which deals can always be struck on a "Win-Win" balance.
The partnership of Badawi and Najib will help to mould the next generation of Malaysian political leaders to view politics from a new perspective, that will advance the ASEAN spirit of co-operation.
Although Singapore is recognised for our financial strenght and political acumen, the ASEAN region has never accepted Singapore (Leaders) to take the leadership role to steer ASEAN forward.
The outspokenly condescending and arrogant speeches made by past and present Singapore Political Leaders towards our neighbor - near and far - have cut deep into the psychic of too many countries to allow Singapore and the Leadership to assume such a stewardship role in ASEAN.
This situation will help Malaysia to deservingly take over the driving seat to steer the larger ASEAN Community forward to face the challengesfrom China and India; and Singapore can play a background role in tandem with the Malaysian Leadership.
LazerLordz
So no more partnership with Thailand, we might have to seek their partnership in pulling ASEAN into a more cohesive platform and forming the ASEAN Community sooner.
Wakus
Well...peace......huh...make the youngsters go ns to prevent war?...ah well....
but you gotta, Najib Tun Razak is right when he said we have to cooperate with m'sia...
I cant help but feel that our politicians sometimes that is during LKY era, we've given little ground for cooperation...
LHL and Badawi can be the more cooperative politicians if i might say so...but if THE ONE still has a say in policy decisions...i dunno...