Singapore-KL ties remain strong despite uncertainty over shared projects

WHEN Mahathir Mohamad emerged as Malaysia's new prime minister following the May 9 general election, Singaporeans shared the joy and relief their Malaysian counterparts displayed following a tough and sometimes tense polling exercise.

But in some circles here, there was also a sense of wariness, borne of years of testy relations between the two governments when the feisty Dr Mahathir was heading the country in the 1980s and 1990s.

An older generation still has vivid memories of the days of tough talk, impasse over various bilateral negotiations and even the veiled threats. Many retail investors here have never forgotten the pain of losing tens of thousands of dollars when the Malaysian side abruptly shut down the Clob (Central Limit Order Book) over-the-counter platform through which they had bought into the Malaysian equity market.