Abstract

Murders on Muhammad's birthday. Lee Kuan Yew sobbing on national TV. Bitter rows over race, land, water, sky and sea. A 217-hectare strip of land occupied by Malaysia, shaped like a dagger, slicing through Singapore. By contrast to the tumult from which it arose, the Railway Land Arbitration between Malaysia and Singapore was a smooth journey. Facing a twenty-year old deadlock, the Southeast Asian neighbours found a way to agree. And when they could not, they agreed to disagree, agreed what exactly they disagreed over, agreed how to disagree, and agreed to respect a ...