that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is exploiting the Singapore bogey in an attempt to unite Malay Malaysians under Umno. Whether Malays in Singapore are treated well or not, the image of them being oppressed and persecuted is used to 'remind' Malay Malaysians how lucky they are.

However, equally true, too, is that in Singapore, the image of Chinese, Indians and other non-Muslims in Malaysia facing discrimination and the so-called "Islamic fundamentalism" threat, is being used to unite non-Malays and non-Muslims in Singapore. They are also constantly 'reminded' how lucky they are to live in Singapore under PAP.

Although the external 'threats' used by Umno and PAP are different in skin colour, religion and culture, the essence of the game plan is the same: to build up a kind of siege mentality and psychoses in Malaysia and Singapore so that the ethnic or religious majorities in Malaysia and Singapore continue to support Umno and PAP respectively.

The reality is that both Umno and PAP are afraid of the spread of the ideas of multiethnic/multireligious democracy and human rights among the numerically dominant communities in their respective countries.

Inter-ethnic and inter-religious distrust, fear and suspicion are then used to justify repressive laws like the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA). These images are also used to project the centrist or middle-of-the-road position of Umno and PAP.

Thus, although Malaysia and Singapore seem to be engaging in incessant wars of words, and also the threats to start real wars, top leaders of both Umno and PAP are meeting and talking to each other quite frequently and amicably. Seen from these perspectives, both Malaysia and Singapore are willingly and happily mutually exploiting each other as bogeys. It is all a sandiwara (staged drama).