Professor Tommy Koh: Letter to my grandchildren in 2065

Posted on August 3, 2015February 19, 2020

Dear Toby and Tara, You will be 54 and 50 years old, respectively, when Singapore celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2065.

If the last 50 years is a guide, you will probably experience as many dramatic changes as I have in the n the past 50 years. I expect that cures will be discovered for such dreaded diseases as cancer, dementia, diabetes, Parkinson’s. Thus, I fully expect that both of you will continue to lead healthy, productive, energetic lives for many more decades, as life expectancy may exceed 100 by this time.

I expect solar energy to become increasingly competitive and that, one day, it will replace energy from fossil fuels. I expect agriculture to be more productive and less demanding of water. Revolutionary changes will take place in all aspects of our lives, in ways which are unimaginable today.

However, the purpose of my letter is not to join the pundits and futurologists in anticipating the changes that will take place in the next 50 years.

What I want to do is to talk to you about things that I hope will not change. I want to talk about values, beliefs and customs which are or should be timeless.

LOVE SINGAPORE

First, you should love your country.

Singapore maybe a small and young country; it is, however, an extraordinary country. If all goes well, we would have remained a stable, peaceful country with our own government, our own military and law enforcement agencies.

In our country, people of different races, colours and religions live in peace and harmony. We celebrate our diversity as a blessing and not as a defect. We recognise and reward talent and merit and we dislike class, privilege and snobbery. We treat our women well and our talented women have helped to make Singapore the success that it is. We are admired for our integrity, reliability and competence. If I have another life to live, I would like to be born again in Singapore.

LOVE THE WORLD

Second, you should love the world.

By “the world”, I mean both the human world and the natural world. I believe in the Confucian philosophy that, under heaven, all men are brothers and all women are sisters. It is not enough to love Singapore -­ you should also love the human family. Because of globalisation and the technological revolution, we truly live in one world and our lives are inextricably linked. For example, we should be concerned about the growing health crisis in South Korea at this juncture ­ in July 2015 ­ because Mers is very likely to spread from there to other countries.

We should empathise with the refugees fleeing persecution and despair in Myanmar because they are part of the Asean family.

Even if, by the time you read this, these countries and organisations have evolved into different forms, we should feel a bond with people around our region, and indeed all around the world, with whom we share a common humanity.

We should also love and respect the natural world because the earth is our home. If we continue to abuse nature, to degrade our ecosystems and neglect our duty as the stewards of the global commons, we will sooner or later face an environmental crisis.

I hope that you and your generation will have the wisdom to make a paradigm shift to a new and more sustainable model of economy and civilisation.

LOVE FAMILY

Third, love your family.

No matter how many technological advances are made, one thing is for sure: Your mother and father, your grandparents, your godparents and other relatives have loved you from the day you were born.

Your parents have made sacrifices and will continue to make sacrifices in order to give you a happy childhood and a good start in life. Remember that the key people in the world who love you unconditionally, in good times and in bad times, are your parents. Be good to your parents when you are grown­up and when they are old.

There is a disturbing trend in Singapore of children abandoning their elderly parents. I hope that, by the time you read this, this remains a small minority and does not become commonplace.

MAKE FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Fourth, make friends for life.

Most human beings are social animals. We need the company of good friends in order to be happy and to thrive. Make good friends and keep them for life.

Many Singaporeans hold a functional or transactional attitude towards friends. You are my friend only as long as you are useful to me. The moment you are no longer useful to me, I will “unfriend” you. This is a bad attitude and smacks of opportunism. The good friends I have made in my childhood, school, university and at various points in my career, both here and abroad, have enriched my life.

DO NOT WORSHIP MONEY

Fifth, do not worship money.

There is a joke that the main form of worship in Singapore is the worship of money. Singaporeans are a materialistic and money­-loving people.

My attitude towards money is that we all need to make money in order to provide for our family and to be able to lead a dignified life. My goal in life is, however, not to make money but to help build a better Singapore and a better world. You should remember that money can’t buy you good health, peace of mind or a happy family.

In fact, money often sows discord in families. Money can buy you a big house and a big car but not a good reputation. It is more important for you to do a job which brings you joy and satisfaction than a job which you do only because it brings you a lot of money. Pursue your talent and your passion and not money.

BE KIND

Sixth, be a kind person.

Of all the virtues, the one that I value the most is kindness. You should be kind to everyone you meet. Many Singaporeans have a selective approach to kindness. They are kind to their bosses or persons in authority over them. They are less kind towards their subordinates. I do not regard such a person as a kind person.

A kind person is one who is kind to everyone, including strangers. In my experience, kindness begets kindness.

BE LOYAL

Seventh, be a loyal person.

Loyalty is a virtue which seems to have gone out of fashion. I believe that one should be loyal to one’s country, spouse, school, university, employer, friends and institutions. I am loyal to my old school, Raffles Institution, and have never said no to a request from the school. I am loyal to the National University of Singapore, Harvard and Cambridge because they have helped to educate me.

Because I served for nine years as a director of DBS, it is my primary banker. Because I served for five years as a director of Singtel, I subscribe only to Singtel for my telecommunication needs. Because I served for over five years on the international advisory board of Toyota, I own and operate a car made by Toyota. I have patronised the same tailor and optician for as long as I can remember.

This may be seen by some as an old­-fashioned attitude but I would like to think that loyalty, like kindness, should never go out of fashion.

BE HEALTHY AND RICH CULTURALLY

Eighth, try to lead a healthy and culturally rich life.

My father taught me to exercise every day in order to keep physically fit. I swim or walk every morning. My father also taught me to love books and to enjoy reading. I read both books of fiction and non­fiction every day.

My mother taught me to enjoy the arts. I feel very privileged to have served as the founding chairman of the National Arts Council and as the second chairman of the National Heritage Board. I hope you will develop your own interests in culture and the arts. They will bring great joy to your life.

I hope you will grow up to be a good man and a good woman. I wish you happy, healthy, peaceful and productive lives.

Your loving Ye Ye,

Tommy Koh

Tembusu Reading Pods AY2015/16 Sem 1

Posted on July 30, 2015February 8, 2021

Professor Tommy Koh’s Keynote Address at the Singapore Regional Business Forum 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015February 19, 2020

Salutations

Mr S S Teo, Chairman, SBF, 

Minister Fu Ying, Chairperson, Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of China,

Mr Wang Jinzhen, Vice-Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade,

Pak Havas Oegroseno, Deputy Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs, of Indonesia,

Judge Paik Jin-Hyun of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea,

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong

Your Excellencies

Distinguished Speakers

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

Thank You

2.    I would like to join Mr S S Teo and the Singapore Business Federation in welcoming all of you, especially, our foreign friends to Singapore and to this important forum. I believe that this is the first occasion on which President Xi Jinping’s 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road proposal, is being discussed outside China.

3.    I would also like to express my deep gratitude to Minister Fu Ying for accepting my invitation to join us at this forum.  Minister Fu Ying is one of China’s most accomplished diplomats.  She won the hearts and minds of the peoples of Australia and the United Kingdom, when she served as China’s Ambassador to those countries.  She was China’s Vice Foreign Minister in charge of Europe and, subsequently, Asia.  She is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chinese National People’s Congress.

 

My Three Points

4.    In accordance with my wife’s advice, I will make three points.  My first point is on the ancient maritime silk road and some lessons we can learn from it.  My second point is to explain why I support the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road.  My third point is to make some suggestions for China’s consideration.

 

The Ancient Maritime Silk Road

5.    Historians, such as Professor Wang Gungwu and archaeologists, such as Professor John Miksic, have told us that trade and travel have taken place for thousands of years in the East China Sea, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.  Arab, Persian, Indian, Ceylonese, Southeast Asian and Chinese seafarers and traders had been active in the ancient maritime silk road for at least two millennia. 

6.    I have benefitted greatly from reading Wang Gungwu’s study of China’s Nanhai Trade, covering the period of over 1,000 years, from the Han to the Tang dynasties.  I have enjoyed reading John Miksic’s book, Singapore and The Silk Road of The Sea:  1300 to 1800.  I have also gained many new knowledge and insights from Anthony Reid’s two books, Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce:  1450-1680.  Another book which I highly recommend is Sugata Bose’s A Hundred Horizons:  The Indian Ocean in the Age of Global Empire.

7.    What all these books tell us is that, for thousands of years, the people of Southeast Asia had been trading among themselves and, with China, India, Ceylon, Arabia and Persia.  What the world wanted from Southeast Asia were spices, the feathers of exotic birds, tortoise shell, pearl, ivory and rhino horns.  What the world wanted from China were silk, ceramics and tea.  From Arabia came frankincense, glass and horses. India exported textile, metal and precious stones.  But, as Wang Gungwu has pointed out, the trade was not just of goods but also of ideas, cultures and religions.

8.    Some famous travellers had written about their sea journey along the maritime silk road.  Let me just mention two of them.  The Venetian, Marco Polo had travelled to China, in 1271, during the Yuan Dynasty, by land.  However, in 1292, he returned to Europe by sea, departing from the port of Quanzhou, in the Fujian province, and stopping at Sumatra, Ceylon, the Malabar coast of India before arriving in the Persian Gulf.

9.    The great Moroccan traveller, Ibn Battuta, went on his haj to Mecca.  However, instead of going home, he made a detour which lasted 23 years.  In India, he found employment with the Sultan of Delhi.  He was sent by the Sultan of Delhi, as one of his Ambassadors to China in 1342.  He travelled to China from India and from China to his hometown of Tangier by sea.  His route was similar to that of Marco Polo.

10.    There are two lessons we should learn from the ancient maritime silk road.  The first is the importance of the freedom of navigation.  Without the freedom of navigation, shipping and maritime trade would not have prospered.  The second lesson is the importance of multiculturalism.  The participants of the ancient maritime silk road were people from different countries and of different races, religions, languages and cultures.  They treated one another with mutual respect.  For example, Arab traders were allowed to build mosques in Quanzhou to practise their faith.  This is the spirit of the ancient maritime silk road which we should adopt.

 

Reasons In Favour Of Proposal

11.    I support the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road proposal for the following reasons.  The proposal will boost trade, shipping, tourism, the development of maritime infrastructure, enhance connectivity and promote better mutual understanding between and among the people. It will create many new economic opportunities and jobs.  Another reason for supporting the proposal is that it complements the Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity.  I hope China will link the two projects and make them mutually reinforcing.  I also see synergy between President Xi’s proposal and Indonesian President Jokowi's vision of developing Indonesia as a maritime power.  With the creation of AIIB, funding for infrastructure projects of merit is assured.

12.    While the primary focus is on developing hard infrastructure, we should also pay attention to the soft infrastructure.  We should cooperate on the development of our human resource and the sharing of skills and expertise.  We should encourage more people-to-people contacts and exchanges, especially among our young people.  We should develop a culture of respecting diversity and promoting better inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding.  The 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road will only succeed if it is based upon the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit.  If disputes arise, they should be settled peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  The Rule of Law must prevail over the rule that might is right.

 

Some Suggestions For China’s Consideration

13.    I would like to make a few suggestions for China’s consideration.  The first suggestion is that China should work harder to gain the understanding and trust of China’s neighbours and partners.  I observe that, at present, there is a deficit of trust between China, on the one hand, and Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and India, on the other.  Because of this deficit of trust, there is unnecessary speculation about China’s strategic objective in launching this initiative.

14.    My second suggestion is that China should adopt an open and inclusive approach.  All countries are welcomed to participate in this project and no country is excluded.

15.    My third suggestion is for China to solicit the views of countries in the region.  China should listen to the region.  It should be prepared to incorporate the views and concerns of countries in the region in future iterations of the proposal.  The best outcome is for the proposal to evolve from being a Chinese project to being the region’s project.  It is desirable for China to obtain the region’s ownership of its proposal.

 

CONCLUSION

16.    I shall conclude.  I support President Xi Jinping’s 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road proposal because it will bring many benefits to the countries and peoples of the East China Sea, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.  The new road should reflect the spirit and ethos of the Ancient Silk Road.  The new road should be linked to the ASEAN Connectivity Masterplan.  To succeed, the new road should be open and inclusive, based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and the rule of law and enjoy the ownership of the region.

17.    Thank you.   

 

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Six students volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai

Posted on July 27, 2015February 8, 2021

Professor Tommy Koh’s Commencement Address: Law School and LKY School of Public Policy

Posted on July 13, 2015February 19, 2020

1.   I thank Dean Simon Chesterman and Dean Kishore Mahbubani for inviting me to speak at this happy occasion.  I extend my warm congratulations and good wishes to the graduands.  I have a personal interest in your future welfare because I have been a member of the Faculty of the Law School since 1962.  I have also been a governor of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy since its inception.

 

2.   Commencement speeches are very difficult to make.  My first commencement speech delivered at an American university, many years ago, was a disaster.  The person who invited me was a good friend who taught courses on US foreign policy and Southeast Asia.  I asked his advice on what my speech should focus on.  He said I should focus on US policy towards Asia.  When the commencement ceremony was over, I asked my wife, who was sitting among the graduands, for her feedback.  She said she overheard one student saying that my speech was too long.  Another student said it was very boring.  A third student asked in exasperation, who does he think he is talking to?  We are not the United Nations.

 

3.   Talking about the United Nations reminds me of a story told to me by the third Secretary-General of the UN, U Thant from Myanmar.  He said that, after a commencement speech he had delivered, several people came up to shake his hand.  The parent of a graduate shook his hand and said:  “Mr Secretary-General, that was a very important speech. You must have it published posthumously.  And do it as soon as possible.”

 

4.   Let me now turn to the law graduands. Lawyers make a very important contribution to the world.  That contribution is the Rule of Law.  We lawyers believe that all countries should be governed by the rule of law and not the rule of man.  We work for a world which is governed by the rule of law instead of the rule that might is right.

 

5.   We believe that no one is above the law and all citizens, irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, political orientation, social and economic status, are entitled to the equal protection of the law.  We believe that the legal profession is a learned and noble profession.  It is not just a service industry.  Making money is a legitimate goal but it must not compromise our professional integrity and our ethical code.  To make the rule of law a reality and not just an ideal, we must ensure that the poor have access to the legal process and that their rights are not trampled upon by the rich and the powerful.  We must also ensure that no accused person, no matter how controversial he is or how heinous his alleged offence, is without counsel.  And justice must be tempered with mercy.

 

6.   I urge you to make a solemn promise that you will always use the law to render justice and that you will never use it as an instrument of oppression.

 

7.   I would now like to turn to the graduands of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.  I recently did a mental survey of the world in the past 50 years.  I was struck by the large number of countries, which had very bright prospects 50 years ago, and which have floundered.  Why have those countries failed to live up to their potential?  Why are they still stuck in the Third World?

 

8.   To simplify a complex story, I would put the blame on the politicians and the public service.  Politicians can make or break a country.  It is an unfortunate truth that, in the past 50 years, only a minority of the developing countries have been blessed with honest and competent political leaders.  In the majority, the political leaders have been either corrupt or incompetent or both.  They have been more interested in furthering their own welfare than the welfare of their peoples.  Instead of focusing on the fundamentals and on the long-term, they have focused on doing what is popular and expedient.

 

9.   In many cases, the venality of the political leaders has been matched by the incompetence and corruption of the public service.  One of the reasons for Singapore’s success is that we have very competent and honest political leaders and public servants.

 

10.   What are my expectations of the graduates of the LKY School of Public Policy?  Most of you will join or return to jobs in the public sector.  Some of you will join the private sector or the non-profit sector.  Whether you are in the public, private or non-profit sector, I expect you to be committed to promoting the welfare of the peoples of the countries you come from.  If you are a public servant or civil society leader, I expect you to be competent, honest and empathetic.  If you become an office holder, I hope you will serve your country with all your t alent and energy.  I hope you will be clean and trust-worthy.  I hope you will not be corrupted by power or office but will remain humble.

 

11.   I shall conclude.  I have very high expectations of all of you.  I hope you will be very successful in your careers.  I hope that, in 50 years’ time, when you look back on your lives and careers, you can say that you have done your best to make this a better world and have left a positive legacy.

 

12.   Thank you very much.

 

 

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Tembusu alumnus David Hoe in The New Paper

Posted on July 8, 2015March 2, 2021