The world in

Singapore

Professor Tommy Koh

Ambassador-At-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PUBLISHED
DEC 5, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT

The history of this island has been shaped by trade, and the
contributions and values of the people drawn to it from near
and far
In several of my previous essays, I discussed Singapore's role in the
world. In this essay, I want to focus on the opposite. I want to discuss
how the world has shaped and influenced Singapore.

In their path-breaking 2009 book, Singapore A 700-Year History:

From Early Emporium To World City, the three authors, Kwa Chong
Guan, Derek Heng and Tan Tai Yong, have successfully rebutted the
theory that the history of Singapore began in 1819.

They have given convincing proof that Singapore's history actually

began in the late 13th century. Based on archaeological excavations
and other evidence, we now know that the island has been settled, off
and on, for the past 700 years.

The reason which attracted people to settle in Singapore was trade.

Singapore owed its existence to the role it played and continues to play
as a free port and as an emporium for trade between China and India,
between East and West and between South-east Asia and the world.

Trade is the life blood of Singapore. We must defend free trade and
oppose protectionism in all its forms.

HEART OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA

My next inspiration comes from the Asian Civilisations Museum
(ACM). I hope that every Singaporean will visit this museum. Why?
Because it tells us who we are and where we came from.

The culture of Singapore is the synthesis and evolution of the

civilisations of South-east Asia, China, India and Islam. The biggest
gallery at ACM is on South-east Asia. Singapore is at the heart of
South-east Asia. People from all over the region have settled here and
become members of the Singapore family. In addition to the Malays,
we have Banjarese, Baweanese, Bugis, Javanese, Sundanese,
Minangkabaus and Acehnese.

ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO

The region has influenced Singapore, ethnically, linguistically and
culturally. For example, our emphasis on cooperation and consensus
is similar to the concepts of musyawarah and mufakat (consultation
and consensus in Bahasa Indonesia). We should encourage
Singaporeans to be more interested in our region and to become more
knowledgeable about the region's peoples, history, heritage and
culture. I would politely remind Singaporeans that we are destined to
live in South-east Asia till the end of time.

ANCESTRAL ROOTS
The museum has a new gallery on China. Singaporeans of all
ethnicities should visit this gallery and learn about the history,
heritage and culture of China.

China is the ancestral home of 76 per cent of our population. China is

on the rise and is on a trajectory to become a superpower by mid-
century. China has influenced and will always influence Singapore.
The important point which Singaporean Chinese should remember is
that China and Singapore are two separate countries and, despite the
goodwill which exists between them, they may sometimes have
divergent interests.

The museum has an excellent gallery on South Asia, focusing

primarily on India. The ancestors of many Singaporeans came from
India and the other countries of South Asia. The region has influenced
Singapore's languages, religions, food, music, dance and literature. I
would urge our Chinese and Malay compatriots to visit this gallery.

India is also on the rise and the economic and business links between
us will continue to grow. It is, therefore, very important for young
Singaporeans of all races to visit India and to enjoy its vibrant and
colourful civilisation. The bottom line is that you won't be successful
doing business in India if you do not know India and do not like India.

ISLAM AND THE WEST

There is also gallery on Islam. Islam is a religion and not a region. So
why do we have a gallery on Islam? I think the reason is there is a lot
of ignorance and prejudice about Islam. It is, therefore, desirable for
Singaporeans of all faiths to have an accurate understanding of Islam.

There are more Muslims in South-east Asia than in Arabia. Islam in

South-east Asia has traditionally been tolerant and not exclusive. Also,
in South-east Asia, unlike some other parts of the world, there are no
sectarian conflicts between the Sunnis and the Shi'ites or between the
Sunnis and the Sufis. Let us try to prevent people with political
agendas from hijacking Islam to serve their political objectives.

There is one other civilisation which has influenced us and which is

not represented at the museum, namely, the British version of
Western civilisation.

Singapore was ruled by the British from 1819 to 1963, a period of 144
years. The British civilisation is part of the larger family of Western
civilisation. The colonial experience has exerted the biggest influence
on Singapore and Singaporeans. Let me cite a few examples.

The British gave us the English language. English has replaced Malay
as the lingua franca of Singaporeans. Through the language, we are
linked to the vast community of English-speaking countries and
peoples. English has also become the language of commerce and
diplomacy. Speaking English proficiently has become one of
Singapore's comparative advantages.

Another thing which Singapore has learnt from the West is the
concept of modernity and the value of science and technology. The
concept of modernity has enabled us to abandon such feudal concepts
and practices as nepotism, the inferior status of women, the offer of
gifts to persons in authority, and so on.

The embrace of science and technology and of engineering and

mathematics has helped to propel Singapore's progress in the past 52
years. The West has also taught us to respect and value the humanities
and the social sciences. Going forward, Singapore should aspire to
excel in both the sciences and the humanities.

One of the most important things we have learnt from the West is the
concept of the rule of law. The idea that all persons are equal before
the law and that no one is above the law is a revolutionary concept.
The ideal of an independent judiciary and that all persons, rich and
poor, will have equal access to justice are powerful ideas.

At the international level, we also support the international rule of

law. All countries are bound by international law and disputes
between states should be settled peacefully and in accordance with
international law.

In 2006, the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and

the World Bank Group were held in Singapore. I was asked by the
Singapore Government to work with those two institutions in
organising the programme of seminars, which was held alongside the
official meetings. The theme was: Singapore In The World and the
World In Singapore.

In this essay, I hope I have succeeded in demonstrating how the world

has influenced and shaped Singapore.
• The writer is Ambassador-at-Large in Singapore's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and a professor of law at the National
University of Singapore.

Kindness is the greatest

virtue, says Tommy Koh
In life and at work, Tommy Koh has always believed in offering
warmth and friendship - even to a rival in love
Sumiko Tan
Executive Editor

Professor Tommy Koh is such a people person he can charm even a

rival in love.

Back in the 1960s, he was dating his then-girlfriend-later-wife Poh

Siew Aing, who was a medical student staying in houseman quarters
at the Singapore General Hospital.
 Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh says that when he negotiates, he starts on
the basis that "at the end of the day, we are human beings, so let's be friends first... Don't see
each other as an adversary".ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
PUBLISHED
DEC 3, 2017, 5:00 AM SGT
Their courtship was smooth sailing except for one episode, he relates.

"One day when I went to visit her, one of her ex-boyfriends was angry
and let out the air in my car tyre, which I thought was not very nice,"
he says in his trademark mild-mannered way.

"So I managed to track him down and had a nice talk with him. Yah,
had a nice talk with him and we became friends."

Winning friends and influencing people is something the

Ambassador-at-Large has done all his life.

In his long career as an academic and a diplomat, he has represented

Singapore in countless international meetings.

Along the way, he has charmed and cajoled world leaders and officials,
all in the name of advancing Singapore's interests.
But it is not just on the work front that he is so genial. He is nice to
everyone, no matter what their station in life is. He has no airs, takes a
genuine interest in people, helps them when he can, and remembers
their names.

Last month, to mark his 80th birthday on Nov 12, a book was
launched paying tribute to him and his work. Tommy Koh - Serving
Singapore And The World is a collection of 46 essays. They cover his
work in diplomacy, international law, the arts and civil society, as well
as lesser-known causes like hawker heritage and guide dogs for the
blind.

The essays were written by people who have worked with him, and
their affection and respect are palpable. This was also evident at a
warm, well-attended event to launch the book at a hotel on Nov 11.

For lunch, he has proposed "the beautiful canteen" at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs (MFA), a conserved, colonial building once occupied
by the British army.

I'm wondering to myself if a canteen can be beautiful, but I have to

agree with his description.

It is a very pleasant space with lots of natural lighting, greenery and

overlooking soothing, landscaped grounds.

He meets me at MFA's reception area and leads me to the canteen,

pausing to say hello to the staff we pass. There is only one stall, selling
halal food and drinks. He chats with the stallholders and tells me their
ayam penyet is very good.

He hands me a tray and I proceed to get rice, bitter gourd, ladies'

fingers and tofu. He says he's trying to lose weight and so asks for just
a helping of bitter gourd and egg tofu, and a slice of papaya. We carry
our trays to a table by the window.

He says his wife believes that bitter gourd is good for health. In
Hokkien, the vegetable is called kor (bitter) kuey (gourd), he notes.

"I tried to convince her in the early days of our marriage that people
whose surname is Koh don't like to eat 'kor'," he jokes.
He's so good at making people feel comfortable that I have no qualms
voicing that he seems a little scared of Mrs Koh, who's known to be
protective of him. He had agreed to this interview only after checking
with her.

"Oh, absolutely," he says at once. "I think between the two of us she
has a stronger personality. I'm very easy-going."

His achievements have been long enough to fill a book - which,

literally, they have.

I ask what has brought him the greatest satisfaction in his career, and
he names a few.

The first was how, as Singapore's permanent representative to the

United Nations in the 1970s and 1980s, he helped rally votes to ensure
that the puppet government installed by Vietnam in Cambodia did not
receive recognition.

The Asean agenda was to liberate Cambodia from foreign occupation

and the tyranny of the Khmer Rouge.

The campaign took more than 10 years, and helped establish the
prestige of Asean as an effective regional body, he says.

The second was how he presided over negotiations that led to the
landmark UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the third was
how he chaired the Preparatory Committee and the Main Committee
of the 1992 Earth Summit.

He is also gratified that as Singapore's envoy to the United States, he'd

managed to arrange for the late Lee Kuan Yew to address a joint
session in the US Congress. "The 9th of October, 1985, was a
memorable day," he says.

He also helped draft the Asean Charter, and led the Singapore
delegation to negotiate the agreement with China to establish
diplomatic relations in 1990.

As a lawyer, he felt privileged to have represented Singapore in the

International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea.
Because of his relaxed manner, he makes it all look so easy, I remark.

"They were not easy," he laughs. "All the jobs were so hard."

What helped was his mindset.

"I was always optimistic. Even when I faced great challenges, I

retained my optimism and positive mindset, kept my sense of humour,
and always thought - there must be a way of solving problems."

Throughout his career, he has always believed in the importance of

teamwork and people-to-people ties. When he negotiates, he starts on
the basis that "at the end of the day, we are human beings, so let's be
friends first, try to develop a relationship, some trust in each other.
Don't see each other as an adversary, but if we have a difficult
problem, let's look at the problem".

He says it is not enough for Singaporeans to be smart at the

negotiation table. EQ, emotional intelligence, as well as CQ, or cultural
intelligence, are crucial too.

This means understanding the other country's cultures, taboos and

way of thinking so you know what to avoid.

"We must understand that we live in different cultural boxes, so when

we work with either one of our neighbours, we must understand their
cultural box and where they're coming from and how they think and, if
possible, conduct ourselves in a manner that would be acceptable or
indeed even admired by them.

"They would then say, 'Sumiko is a very halus person.' You're a very
cultured person, rather than coming across as cold and arrogant,
condescending. So we have a lot to learn."

But can this be learnt, I ask.

He answers obliquely: "In spite of our success, we must remain very

Confucian, very humble and modest."

I wonder if an attitude like this can be imparted to young diplomats.

"The junior will learn from the senior," he says.

But do all senior officials imbibe that philosophy?

He smiles and relates this story.

A permanent secretary once asked him why it was that he got along
well with everyone, including the permanent secretary's opposite
number, who didn't like him.

Prof Koh replied that it helped that he and the other man were old
friends who had served together in the UN. But it was also because "I
show him friendship and warmth. I try not to embarrass him and put
him down".

Singaporeans have "a bit of a kiasu mindset that we must win every
point", he says gently.

He remembers how, during negotiations with Malaysians, his younger

colleagues would slip him a note saying, "Prof, don't give in."

"So after the session, I would try to explain that even if I win every
point, it means that my counterpart lost every point. So how can he go
back home and sell the package if he lost every point?

"I say, no, no, you know we must protect our core interests. But on
non-core issues, we must concede so that you have a balanced
outcome, one that durable."

He has worn many hats, but if there is one thing he has never been
interested in, it's been making money. That was the reason he didn't
choose to practise law.

"It was a great disappointment to my mother, you know. Being

Shanghainese, she was very interested in making money.

"Before my wife married me, she pulled her aside, had a good talk with
her and said, 'You're going to marry my stupid son. Can you please
convince him to leave the law school, go and practise law. You will be a
very rich woman.'

"My wife said, 'Your mother passed me this message.' I said, 'Yah, I
know, she thoroughly disapproves of my profession.' She thought I
was wasting my talent."

His mother was a feisty woman who was born in Shanghai. She ran
away from home to join a performing-arts troupe called Mei Gui
(rose) and was a dancer and actress. "According to my wife, my show-
off genes are from my mother," he jokes.

The troupe toured South-east Asia, which was how she met Prof Koh's
father, who had studied in Shanghai and could speak the dialect. His
father was an extroverted businessman with a gift for languages, and
could speak Chinese, English, Malay, Thai, French and German.

Prof Koh, the eldest of three sons, was inspired to do law after
witnessing the late David Marshall and Lee Kuan Yew battle it out in
the Legislative Assembly.

Raffles Institution, where he studied, was then sited near the assembly
and he and his friends would head there to watch the two lawyer-
politicians argue.

He was in the pioneer batch of the University of Singapore's law

school and worked for a year with Mr Marshall after he graduated. But
an incident persuaded him that he was not cut out to be a lawyer.

A young worker had died in an accident and he had to represent an

insurance company on the matter of compensation. It emerged that
the worker's mother had adopted him through customary, not legal,
means. Under the law, she was not entitled to compensation.

"When I discovered this, I struggled with my own conscience. Should I

or should I not raise a legal objection?"

He tried to persuade the insurance company to offer compensation,

arguing that the woman had looked after the man from a young age,
but it refused.

It was a traumatic experience and he decided to go back to academia

"to take on law reform as a life mission".

As things turned out, his life detoured to diplomacy, then roles like
director of the Institute of Policy Studies and chairman of the National
Arts Council, among others.

I ask why he never entered politics. He had opportunities but declined

because he wanted the freedom to continue voicing independent
views. His wife also told him he wouldn't be happy.
His days are packed. He gets up at 5.30am and swims, and is usually
at work by 8.15am. The day after we meet, he's chairing a forum on
philanthropy.

He has two young grandchildren, Toby and Tara, from his

entrepreneur son Aun, 45.

His other son Wei, 48, who is in publishing, is married but does not
have children.

We've finished lunch and my colleagues have arrived to take the

photographs and video.

While waiting for the camera to be set up, he carries his tray back to
the tray corner.

I ask if he is ever angry.

"From time to time, but I don't hold grudges."

He seems to have had such a happy life and I wonder if there is a

secret to all this.

He says he has tried to live an ethical life and "I believe that the most
important virtue is kindness".

"I'm born happy," he adds, simply. "And I guess being an optimist and
having a positive mindset helped. I guess I'm a very people person."

Watching him greet and offer kindly words to my photographer,

videographer and producer colleagues, the description is apt.

•Tommy Koh - Serving Singapore And The World is

available at bookshops for $36 (excluding GST).

Professor Tommy Koh on his role as

ambassador.http://str.sg/tommykoh

PIX BELOW - Prof Koh and his wife Poh Siew Aing at a New Year’s
Day Ball on Dec 31, 1994. He has warm memories of their courtship
days back in the 1960s. LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO