I refer to the comments by the de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim and Umno Youth's Dr Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman concerning the stringent checking at the customs checkpoint by Singaporean authority.

Despite the reasons given by Singapore government and the understanding shown by Acting PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, these two individuals are unrelenting in their criticism of Singapore's position. This is not going to help in restoring our bilateral relationship and would make things difficult for the future governments of both countries especially after Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era.

If these two are so concerned about the welfare of their countrymen, then their silence o­n the ill-treatment of Indian IT professionals by the Malaysian police is deafening. Why do they keep mum o­n this incident which has tarnished Malaysia's image and vision for an e-society?

What about the recent assistance rendered by Singapore to Johoreans when there was shortage of water caused by the breakage of a water pipe? Do Rais and Shamsul have nothing nice to say about it?

Likewise Berita Harian is most happy to play accomplice in bashing Singapore.

Yet the Sunday Star has reported that traffic was smooth. Some Malaysians interviewed were not in the least bothered by such checks as the wait was not as bad as it seems.

Compare with my recent trip to Johor via the second link, when I had to wait for more than two hours just to clear the Malaysian custom checks. That is why I never want to enter Johor again if possible.

It is expected that there will be jostling of power and positions in the Malaysian political scene pending the retirement of Mahathir and as a byproduct some politicians will be again tempted to use Singapore for political mileage. For Singaporeans living opposite the causeway, this is nothing new.