The process of relating Across the Causeway to the subject of Malaysian Studies is not easy; Contributors to this book edited by Mr Shiraishi include scholars from Malaysia and Singapore with different views on the history and current disputes facing the two nations. Mr. Shiraishi himself admits that the book itself demonstrates that the challenges of carrying out such a project are not limited to soliciting and collecting contributions; the heavy legacy of historical entanglement, political union and subsequent separation not only continues to cast a shadow over the ongoing process. transactions and negotiations between the two countries, it also imposes burdens on scholars of Malaysia-Singapore relations. As a foreigner of both nations, Mr. Shiraishi is an Asian with a strong historical background in Southeast Asian studies; he undertakes the task of bringing together and bringing together the opinions of both sides into a neutral position. This differentiates him from Western orientalists through an ethnocentric approach or a biased opinion on the notion of the Singapore-Malaysian conflict. He adds that the narratives of what happened (or is happening) between Malaysia and Singapore, whether put forward by the political actors themselves or by those whose lives are affected by the event and its aftermath , all encode points of view and carry emotional connotations that can provoke positive or negative responses far beyond their literal meaning. Across the Causeway takes a decidedly eclectic approach. Each section contains essays by Malaysian, Singaporean and third-party scholars and highlights the heterogeneity of interpretations that underpin different disciplinary approaches to the issue. Gapore's defense policy is deeply influenced by Singapore's sense of vulnerability and the deterrence strategy that views power in terms of competition. In Chapter 12, Kamarulnizam Abdullah examines the politics of Malaysia and Singapore following the 9/11 attacks on the United States and the US-led "war on terror" targeting South Asia -Is as the second front of their international campaign. In terms of economics, the competition and complementarity of the Malaysian and Singaporean economies and their different economic policy actions and responses are examined in Chapter 13 by Teofilo C. Daquila. Finally, in chapter 14, Mahani Zainal Abidin traces the colonial basis of the economy. the interdependence of the various Malay states and the Straits Colonies, arguing that the foundation of post-independence Malaysia-Singapore relations was formed by this legacy.