Recently, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia came out to criticise Utusan Malaysia for its stinging editorial on a proposed amendment to Singapore’s Elected Presidency system. The High Commission understood the editorial as suggesting that in Singapore, "meritocracy [is used] as an excuse to discriminate against Malays", that "meritocracy is open to manipulation", and that "Malays [have] become weaker and marginalised from the corridors of power”. Singapore believes that these are “baseless and mischievous allegations”.

Today, we ask what are the core bilateral issues remain between the two countries? And how successive Malaysian administrations have dealt with a relationship that comes with lots of historical baggage.