Quora Answer: Why are Singaporeans Not Xenophobic towards Malaysians Considering the Huge Number of Malaysians in Singapore?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Why are Singaporeans not xenophobic towards Malaysians considering the huge number of Malaysians in Singapore?”

Firstly, there are no huge numbers of Malaysians in Singapore.  There are a lot of them, but they are generally not visible.  Malaysia and Singapore were once one nation.  Singaporeans and Malaysians are not very different.  A Malaysian working in Singapore is not as obvious as, perhaps, someone from Bangladesh or the Philippines.

Secondly, Singapore is a nation of immigrants.  Almost every one of us are descendants of people who came here from elsewhere, many through the Malay Archipelago itself.  It would be illogical for us to be xenophobic when we have relatives from Malaysia.

As a trade city and cosmopolitan business centre, Singapore is open to foreigners.  We are used to the fact that people come from all over the world to find their fortune here.  People are judged on their capabilities more than where they come from.