YOU know the joke in Malaysia. Everyone is an instant expert on social media whenever anything happens – be it the Perak move, the MH370 disappearance, flash floods and landslides.

We can extend it across the Causeway now. 

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had questioned Malaysia’s motive to request the International Court of Justice to revise its 2008 judgment awarding the disputed Pulau Batu Puteh, also called Pedra Blanca, and the South Ledge to Singapore, saying it could be linked to the country’s next general election.

This is the problem with Singapore. The island republic really believes it knows its neighbours and every year, Lee stands before his population and addresses them like some expert about everything under the sun.

The information is usually gathered by its clutch of diplomats. But the fact is that in recent times, these diplomats do not have the access to the corridors of power. 

It is a good day when they meet a junior minister or deputy minister. They usually have to contend with the hangers-on or at worst, journalists who cover the various beats.

Still, the charade must go on. What charade? The charade of pretending to the outside world that Singapore really knows what is going on in its backyard.

So, it’s hard not to agree with Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin when he rapped Lee today over the latter’s remarks linking the Batu Puteh issue with GE14.

“It is easy to gain political support by making allegations about other countries, as Lee did during the PAP convention, but unlike him, Malaysia takes the issue of sovereignty seriously,” Khairy said in a statement today, which was posted on the Umno Youth and his personal Twitter accounts.

“For Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s information, Malaysia’s general election had not been announced when the discovery of facts was made last year. As a reminder, the Malaysian Parliament has not been dissolved till today, more than a year since the discovery of new facts was made,” said the Umno Youth chief.

GE14 will be won or lost on a number of issues, chiefly the rising cost of living and even Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ability to keep Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS in Umno’s corner.

Pulau Batu Puteh will not move any political needle, just like a visit to Tung Shin Hospital and a promise of funds will move the Chinese to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN).

Singapore and Prime Minister Lee need to get a better insight of Malaysia. Or they will end up making assumptions that will earn them a rebuke from their friends in BN.

After all, it is in their interest the current government returns to power. Any other government under the influence of Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be far unfriendlier. – November 20, 2017.