No More Chicken: How Poultry Shortages Give Us a Taste of Singapore’s Complex Stance in International Politics

In late May of 2022, the government of Malaysia, the country’s primary supplier of chickens, announced that it would stop exporting chicken meat to Singapore to combat the domestic inflation of poultry prices. The repercussions were near-devastating. On a cultural level, this shortage subsequently deprived Singaporeans of their easy access to chicken rice, a beloved national dish and culinary staple. Economically, this added to the existing cost of living difficulties that surfaced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—especially for importers of chicken meat. Not only was chicken no longer fresh, it was also painfully expensive. 

While this shortage lasted only one month, it shed light on Singapore’s deep reliance on bilateral relations for her survival, exposing a greater dependency on international powers on a wider political and economic scale.

A Brief History of Singapore’s Economy and Society 

At 700km2, the island is small and limited in its resources, such as a lack of land for farming and natural water sources like lakes. Throughout the 700 years of its written history, Singapore’s strategic location at the heart of Southeast Asia, along the Malay Archipelago’s spice route, has earned it a reputation for being an excellent trading port.

Before being colonized by the British in 1819, the small island fishing village, known as ‘Temasek’, had long engaged in international trade with a vast network of neighbouring ports and economic regions. As evidenced by hundreds of archaeological findings, Temasek engaged in barter trade with kingdoms such as Malacca, present-day Malaysia, Majapahit, present-day Indonesia, and China. Post-1819, this network has only grown to include every other continent, and Singapore is now one of the busiest ports in the world.

Concerning other aspects of Singapore’s structure, its lack of land and natural resources equates to a tiny population. Hence, military-wise, there is a lack of manpower to support efforts in case of war. Such circumstances have led to the nation’s foreign policy strategy comprising a neutral standpoint when witnessing conflicts between its allies. 

Singapore’s International Relations: Malaysia and the Rest of the World 

Food-wise, approximately 90% of Singapore’s sources are imported while the other 10% is local produce. A key global trade partner, Singapore’s economic partnerships largely shape its bilateral relations. 

An excellent example of this causation is seen in the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia (which are geographical neighbours). Historically, in a bid to strengthen itself as a developing nation, Singapore was once merged with then-Malaya in the aftermath of its total independence from the British. Quite similarly, present-day Malaysia benefits from exporting potable water, poultry, vegetables, and other foodstuffs to Singapore. However, that does not come without struggle, as seen in the chicken shortage (Malaysian imports account for 34% of chicken meat supply). Additionally, there have been economic and political threats to withdraw water supply, risking a shortage. Such instances account for a workable yet tenuous set of bilateral relations between these neighbours. 

Apart from sustenance, the motive behind the aforementioned neutral stance on the part of Singapore is to maintain political security. Notably, it has refused to ally itself with either the United States (US) or China at the height of their rivalry—on the condition that there are no indivisible differences between the two powers and that its pursuit of fulfilling self-interests is not disrupted. In the larger scheme of things, Singapore’s military has formed an abundance of security alliances with Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Malaysia (‘The Five Power Defence Arrangements’) and the US which guarantees intervention in the face of conflict. 

Conclusion 

Although short-lived, Singapore’s chicken crisis holds valuable lessons about the conduct of its current bilateral relationship with Malaysia. As the two nations are deeply rooted in each other’s pasts, revising approaches and adapting quickly to boost self-dependence is necessary albeit complex in this era.

Nonetheless, steps in that direction are being taken. For example, NEWater is an initiative to integrate water reuse into Singapore’s sustainability model, and there has been a proliferation of vertical farming establishments to counter the scarcity of land. With government agencies aiming to be 30% self-reliant by 2030, these new initiatives prove this target to be closer than ever imagined. 

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Image Source: Vincent Thian. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/01/like-mcdonalds-with-no-burgers-singapore-faces-chicken-shortage-as-malaysia-bans-export.