Many pragmatic Malays appreciate this frankness and understand the SAF's difficulty. Being a multiracial nation in a largely ethnic Malay region, Singapore's defence is posed a major strategic problem when Malays are placed in key military positions, so the argument goes.
Agreeable or not, the frank disclosure acknowledges a delicate socio-political dilemma confronting us as a nation. But a line in the report that describes Colonel Ishak Ismail's promotion as a milestone in Malay efforts to be fully accepted in the military suggests that most Singaporeans still view the role of Malays in the SAF as a Malay issue.
The acceptance of Malays in the SAF is a national issue and not a Malay one because acceptance is a two-way street.
Having Malays in high-ranking military positions is a great asset rather than a liability in a defence paradigm that regards fighting our own neighbours as the least likely scenario, and cooperation with them in a regional defence network as a key strategy. Being a Malay would be an additional advantage.
But should the unimaginable happen, it is the existence of high-ranking Malay soldiers that will convince all in the rank and file, as well as society at large - be they Malays or otherwise - that all other options have been fully explored and fighting our neighbours is the last resort.
All things considered, it is time we discard being a Malay as a factor for promotions in the military. They should be conducted in true Singaporean fashion - on the basis of meritocracy.
Osman Sidek
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=32312.1
