Quora Answer: What Do Singaporeans Think of Annexing Johor?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What do Singaporeans think of annexing Johor?” 

Johor contributes the 3^rd highest GDP among all Malaysian states.  Johor also contributes almost 10% of Malaysia’s GDP.  Due to its proximity to Singapore, it is the most industrialised state.  I cannot see a scenario where a stable Malaysia would willingly allow Johor, with all its potential, to secede peacefully.  Either Malaysia lost a war, and Johor seceded and merged with Singapore; or Malaysia became a failed state.  I do not see how we would benefit from it in the short term, and I doubt we can afford it in the intermediate term. 

Firstly, Johor is a large hinterland, with a population of 3.7 million.  52% of that population is Malay, with 30% Chinese.  That 52% of the population is used to preferential treatment under the bumiputera policy.  On the other hand, Singapore is not going to give up its meritocracy.  There will be an immediate reignition of racial tensions.  We have to also consider the status of Islam in Johor, when Singapore is a secular state.  As a Singaporean, I certainly do not want Islam, or any religion, as a state religion.  That is unpalatable.  It would feed an already existing entitlement complex among some Muslims. 

Secondly, what is the status of the monarchy?  Do we suddenly have a constitutional monarchy?  What are the limits of royal power?  If the Sultan is the head of state, what happens to the Executive Presidency?  Who has ultimate veto over the drawings of our substantial Reserves? 

Thirdly, Singapore now has a land border with rump Malaysia, which would be impossible to fully police.  There are defence, customs and law enforcement concerns to address. 

Finally, there is a huge cost involved in integrating the economy of a large land area with a native population that is almost 70% ours.  There is a huge discrepancy in education, social mobility, work culture, infrastructure development, and purchasing power.  In effect, we would end up subsidising a huge rural population for the better part of three or more decades. 

I am considering the example of German reunification in 1990, and how it affected the German state, and the social problems that developed because of the difference in development and culture.  And this is among Germans.  We have a multicultural city state merging with an apartheid state that favours Malays over others.  I see more to lose than to be gained from such a merger, and I think the people of Johor would agree on that.