The claim that Singapore, a signatory of the 1971 Five Power Defence Agreement (along with Malaysia, UK, Australia and New Zealand) was "surrounded by hostile states" is absurd on its face. I can't really take the rest of this article seriously.
When relations go South, Malaysia has in a few instance threaten to “cut off water to Singapore”. And when Malaysia violates Singaporean airspace Singapore fire up the jet fighters (they have one of the largest air forces in SE Asia?)
So not hostile in the sense of East and West Germany, but hostile none the less (at least Malaysia and Indonesia).
Malaysia also knows that turning off the taps = invasion. Singapore isnt shy about expressing its displeasure.
"Malaysia knows turn off the tap means invasion." I mean, that's exactly the reason why we went over the top with the military thing isn't it?
Of course it also provides a highly obedient and compliant workforce which keeps the foreign investors happy.
That being mainly what Singapore is all about these days (foreign capital even dictated that chewing gum be legalized and thus it was so).