Professor Tommy Koh’s Speech at Book Launch: Through the Lens of Lee Kip Lin, Photographs of Singapore, 1965-1995

Posted on April 28, 2015February 19, 2020

Book: Through the lens of Lee Kip Lin, Photographs of Singapore, 1965-1995

Author: Dr Lai Chee Kien

Date and Venue: Tuesday, 28 April 2015 at the National Library

Guest-of-Honour: Professor Tommy Koh

Honorary Chairman,

National Heritage Board

Talking Points

1. First, I would like to thank Mrs Lee Kip Lin also known as Madam Ong Li Ming, for generously donating to the National Library Board, her husband’s legacy of photographs, slides, negatives, maps, prints and books. We are very grateful to you and your family for this precious donation.

2. Second, I would like to praise Lee Kip Lin. He was born in Singapore in 1925 and passed away in 2011, at the ripe old age of 86. He studied architecture in London and returned to Singapore in 1956. He spent his life practising architecture, teaching architectural students, researching and writing. He published three books: (i) Telok Ayer Market: A Historical Account of the Market from the Founding of the Settlement of Singapore to the Present Time in 1983; (ii) Emerald Hill: The story of a Street in words and Pictures in 1984; and (iii) The Singapore House: 1819-1942, in 1988 which I consider his magnum opus.

3. I would like to highlight this evening, Lee Kip Lin’s contributions as a historian and photographer of our built heritage. I think I can say that Lee Kip Lin loved Singapore. He must have worried that, with urban renewal and the unstoppable trend to replace the old with the new, we were in danger of losing so many of the buildings, streets and neighbourhoods which he loved. He therefore photographed them and wrote about them. We owe Lee Kip Lin a debt of gratitude for documenting our built heritage.

4. Third, I would like to praise the author, Dr Lai Chee Kien. Chee Kien is an architect, a lecturer and a historian of art and architecture. He is also a good friend. He is the author of three books and the co-author of a graphic novel. During the last Biennale, Chee Kien created a small replica of the façade of the National Theatre which used to stand on River Valley Road. It won many admirers. I would like to thank Chee Kien for going through close to 15,000 slides and choosing 500 photographs for this book. He has done a good job.

5. Fourth, I would like to thank the 2 co-publishers of this lovely book. The NLB team consists of Francis Dorai, Wong Sook Muoi, and Stephanie Pee. The EDM team consists of Didier Millet, Sng Siok Ai, Felicia Wong and Sin Kam Cheong. May I ask the members of the 2 teams to stand?

6. Fifth, I have been asked to say a few words about my memories of places which have played an important role in my life. I grew up in a small but charming house at 38 Shanghai Road. My mother sold the house and it has been replaced by a block of flats. Before the house was demolished I commissioned Ong Kim Seng to do a painting of the house. He did a superb job. After the war, I attended a Chinese school on Outram Road called Kong Shang. It has disappeared. After struggling in Kong Shang, I left the Chinese stream for the English stream and spent a year at St Joseph’s Institution on Bras Basah Road. I am glad that it has survived and is the home of the Singapore Art Museum. I then joined the Outram Primary School, which has also disappeared.

7. From Outram, I went to the Raffles Institution which was then located on Bras Basah Road. I must confess that, every time I am in Raffles City, I suffer a slight pang of regret that my old school had to make way for it. From RI, I went to study law at the University of Malaya, which was then located at the Bukit Timah campus. I am glad that the campus has been gazetted as a national monument and the Law Faculty has moved from Kent Ridge to its original home.

8. My wife has told me that when I was courting her, I would often take her to the Esplanade for a walk, followed by dinner at Lau Pa Sat or the Telok Ayer Market. I am glad that this market has survived.

9. As a young man, I used to attend concerts at the Victoria Memorial Hall as well as art exhibitions at the same venue. I am happy that Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall have been preserved and have been beautifully restored.

10. RI was only a stone’s throw from Capitol Theatre. We used to frequent that movie theatre. I did not cut any class in order to sneak into Capitol Theatre. Scouts honour! I am also very pleased that Capitol Theatre has been preserved and will soon re-open as a venue for the performing arts.

11. From RI, we would also walk over to the Raffles Library and Museum, on Stamford Road, to study. The building now houses the National Museum. I was thrilled to speak at the re-opening of the museum as the then Chairman of NHB.

12.From RI, I used to walk over to the Legislative Assembly at Empress Place to hear two great orators, Lee Kuan Yew and David Marshall, debate each other. The old Parliament House has been reborn as the Arts House.

13.I think I will close with this story. I was the Chairman of NHB for nine years, from 2002 to 2011. When the judges moved out of the old Supreme Court and City Hall into their new space-age looking building designed by Lord Foster, I was concerned that the Government might consider re-using the buildings as a hotel or for some other commercial purpose. Given the histories of the two buildings, I felt that the most appropriate thing to do was to turn them into a new National Gallery. I submitted such a proposal to the cabinet although my then CEO, Mrs Lim Sook Peng, warned me that I was unlikely to succeed. I was thrilled when the PM announced in 2005 that the two historic monuments will be turned into a new national gallery. Like all of you, I eagerly look forward to its opening in November. I am convinced that it will be a great success.

14.Thank you very much.

. . . . . . .

Professor Tommy Koh’s Speech – Launch of the Musicians Guild of Singapore

Posted on April 25, 2015February 19, 2020

Salutations

1.    Professor Bernard Tan, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Members of the Board, which include Rani Singam, Bevlyn Khoo, Yang Jiwei, Au Yong Tien, Samuel Seow, Janice Koh, Colin Goh and Eric Ng.

2.    Mr Adrian Tan, the Executive Director of the Guild and the members of his team.

3.    The CEO of the National Arts Council, Ms Kathy Lai, our former NMP, Janice Koh, Mr Goh Yew Lin (SSO), Ms Goh Ching Lee, Mr Patrick Lee (SCO), Jeremy Monteiro, Michael Chiang,

4.    Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

Thank-You

5.    Some time last year, Bernard Tan and Adrian Tan came to see me.  They told me that they intended to take the lead in forming the Musicians Guild of Singapore and asked if I would be willing to serve as its patron.

6.    They reminded me that I was the founding chairman of the National Arts Council and had championed the cause of music and musicians in Singapore.

7.    After such a reminder, I really had no choice but to say yes.

8.    I wish to thank them and all of you for the confidence you have in me.  I shall try to live up to your expectations.

 

Power of Music

9.    One thing which differentiates us, the homo sapiens, from other animals is our love of music.  The love of music seems to be an intrinsic element of being human.  Thus, we find human beings making music and enjoying music at every stage in the evolution of civilization.

10.Music is a very powerful form of art.  It can make us happy.  It can also make us sad.  It can unite a nation through music, for example, Finlandia for the Finns.  It can unite a people through a song, for example, singing the Star Spangled Banner by the Americans.  A piece of great music can unite a continent, e.g. Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is the anthem of the European Union.  A great music can cross barriers of time, geography, race, culture and unite the people of the world.  Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony has been embraced by the people of Japan, who gather on New Year’s Eve to sing the Ode to Joy.  I believe it has also evokes the strong emotions of Singaporeans wherever it is performed. 

 

Music in Singapore

11.Music is booming in Singapore.  This is true of all genres of music:  classical, pop, jazz, rock, new music, Chinese, Malay, Indian, etc.  There is a music industry in Singapore.  It is now possible to make a living as musicians.  We want to promote, even more, the appreciation of music in Singapore.  I would like Singapore to eventually become a music city.

 

No Music Without Musicians

12.It goes without saying that there will be no music without musicians.  We must therefore raise the status, income and welfare of musicians in Singapore.  Musicians belong to a profession just as doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.  It is therefore only right for the musicians of Singapore, whether they are teachers, composers or practitioners, no matter what genre of music they perform, to belong to a professional body.  This is the raison d’etre for forming the guild. 

 

Vision For the Guild

13.The guild must be inclusive and not exclude any one.  While looking after the welfare of its members, it must also be dedicated to the promotion of music in Singapore.  It now gives me great pleasure in launching the guild.  I wish it great success in the coming years.

14.Thank you.

 

. . . . . . .

Technology and the Fate of Knowledge – On the Web

Posted on April 24, 2015February 8, 2021

Tembusu alumnus, David Wong awarded the IAPSS Award for Academic Excellency 2015

Posted on April 21, 2015February 8, 2021

Professor Tommy Koh’s Speech at Official Opening of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Posted on April 18, 2015February 19, 2020

1.    Mr President, D.P.M Teo Chee Hean, Pro-Chancellors Po’ad Mattar and Ngiam Tong Dow, Mr Wong Ngit Liong, NUS Trustees, Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, Prof Tan Eng Chye, Prof Shen Zuowei, Prof Leo Tan, Prof Peter Ng, Dr Lee Seng Tee, former CJ Dr Yong Pung How, Dr Della Lee, Mr Mok Wei Wei and his team from W Architect, Ms Laura Miotto and Ms Fiona Ng and their team from GSM, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.  I want to tell Wei Wei and his team that they have lived up to our expectations.  I want also to tell the designers from GSM that they have done a very good job.

 

2.    This is a very happy occasion.  I wish, however, to begin on a slightly sombre note by referring to our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. One lesson we should learn from Mr Lee is to love nature and to aspire to live in harmony in nature.  Because of his vision, we have one of the greenest cities in the world and a city which is rich in biodiversity.  In recent years, the horn bill bird, the otter and the wild boar, which have been working abroad have returned to our shores.

 

3.    Eleven years ago, in 2004, I was the Chairman of the Natural Heritage Board.  After visiting the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, I wrote to the then NUS President, Prof Shih Choon Fong, and requested the University to consider building a natural history museum in order to display its priceless collections of fauna and flora.  I am very grateful to President Tan Chorh Chuan and his predecessor, Prof Shih Choon Fong, for responding positively to my proposal.  However, the proposal would not have taken off if not for the indefatigable efforts of Professor Leo Tan and Professor Peter Ng.  Let us give Leo and Peter and the members of their team a big round of applause.

 

4.    Mr President, Singapore lies at the heart of Southeast Asia.  Our region has one of the richest biodiversities in the world.  It is only right that Singapore should build Southeast Asia’s first world class museum of natural history.

5.    My vision for the museum is that it will attract many visitors, especially students and young people.  The museum will share with them its message of loving nature and conserving nature.  We should work with the various stakeholders to ensure the survival of the endangered species of fauna and flora of Southeast Asia, including the 5 charismatic animals, namely, the tiger, elephant, rhino, orang utan and the sea turtle.  I would also like to ring the alarm bell on another threatened animal, the pangolin.  Some misguided people are eating this animal to the brink of extinction.  It is, however, just as important to conserve the non-charismatic species, such as Peter’s crabs and my banded-leaf monkey, because all living things are connected to one another in the web of life.

 

6.     The museum will also be a centre of teaching, research and intellectual discourse. My hope is that, one day, this museum will gain the same stature and excellence as the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  My children grew up in New York.  My wife and I had taken them many times to visit this great Museum.  I hope that we will establish links between this museum and other great museums of natural history in the world.

 

7.    We are celebrating this year, the 50^th Anniversary of Singapore’s independence.  I consider this museum as a gift by NUS to the people of Singapore.  It is another jewel in our cultural crown.  I wish the museum great success.  I also wish Dr Kevin Tan’s interesting book, of Whales and Dinosaurs – The Story of Singapore’s Natural History Museum, great success.

 

8.    Thank you very much.

 

. . . . . .

Professor Tommy Koh’s Speech at Fulbright Dinner, 16 April 2015

Posted on April 16, 2015February 19, 2020

Salutations

 

1.            Dr Jeremy Lim, the US Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Richard Stengel, the US Ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar, fellow Fulbrights, Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

2.            I would like to begin by thanking the United States for sending a distinguished delegation, consisting of former President, Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, former National Security Adviser, Tom Donilon and former Ambassador to Singapore, Steve Green, to attend the State Funeral of our founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

 

3.            In accordance with my wife’s advice, I will make three points in my response to Richard and Kirk.

 

 

In Praise of the Fulbright Program

 

4.            First, I wish to praise the Fulbright Program.  In 1963, I was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and a Harvard Law School Fellowship.  I was the first Singaporean to study at Harvard Law School.  Last year, on the happy occasion of the 50^th anniversary of my graduation, Harvard awarded me the Great Negotiator Award.  In 1976, on the occasion of America’s bi-centennial, the Fulbright Program put the names of all the Fulbright scholars into a jackpot.   In a lottery, 20 names were picked.  I was one of the lucky winners.  I was at that time serving as Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations.  I was sent on an attachment with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego.  The 20 lucky winners were then brought to Washington, DC, were we met the great man, Senator Fulbright, and brainstormed about the future directions of the Fulbright Program.  I told Senator Fulbright that the program had two important benefits for the world.  It has enabled thousands of young men and women to gain knowledge from studying at America’s leading universities.  Equally importantly, it has enabled the foreign scholars in America, and American scholars in foreign countries, to gain a better understanding of one another’s countries.  There is an African saying that knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to respect.  We desperately need greater understanding and mutual respect between countries and peoples in this troubled world.

 

5.            Second, I wish to praise America.  Mr Lee Kuan Yew was an admirer of the United States which he regarded as a benign superpower.  He also regarded the US as a Pacific power.  He was an eloquent advocate of the view that as the centre of gravity of the world has shifted from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the United States should give a higher priority in its foreign policy to the Asia Pacific.  It is also in Asia’s interests that the United States should continue to play a leading role in the affairs of the region.  The US has contributed positively to the peace, prosperity and security of the region.  We therefore support President Obama’s pivot to Asia or rebalancing with Asia.

 

6.            Third, as a former Ambassador to the US, I am happy to report that the US-Singapore relationship is in very good shape.  It is substantive, comprehensive and mutually beneficial.  I was Singapore’s chief negotiator in the negotiations to conclude the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.  Ten years have passed since the agreement came into force.  Trade between our countries is booming.  The investment story is truly remarkable.  By the end of 2013, US investment in Singapore reached US$154 billion.  The US has more investments in Singapore than in any other country in Asia.  It is a sign of US confidence in Singapore and recognition of our strong rule of law.

 

 

My Three Wishes

 

7.            On that happy note, I shall conclude my remarks with 3 wishes.  First, I wish that the US will recover fully from the recession of 2008 and be once again, a strong, prosperous and confident country.  Second, I wish that the relations between the US and Asia will remain close, cooperative and collegial.  Third, I wish that the excellent relations between the US and Singapore will continue to expand and deepen.

 

8.            Thank you very much.

 

 

. . . . . . .

Professor Tommy Koh: Thank You India

Posted on April 2, 2015February 19, 2020

Thank You India

 

          The founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, passed

away on the 23^rd of March 2015.  His State Funeral was held on the 29^th of March.  The Government of India declared the 29^th of March as a day of national mourning and the Indian flag was flown at half-mast throughout India.  The Prime Minister of India, Sri Narendra Modi, came personally to attend Mr Lee’s funeral.

 

          I am sure that all Singaporeans will join me in thanking the Government and people of India for these extraordinary acts of friendship and solidarity.  In this essay, I wish to reflect on the reasons for the very close relationship which exists between India and Singapore.

 

History and Culture

 

          First, I want to refer to our historical and cultural links.  Singapore lies at the heart of Southeast Asia.  Historically, Southeast Asia was a sphere of influence of the Indian civilization.  Hinduism and Buddhism were exported from India to the region.  We see this in the great temples of Angkor Wat.  We also see this in the inspiring Buddhist temple in Borobudur and the Hindu temple in Prambanan.   There is evidence that Indian traders and seafarers were present in and around Singapore from the 9^th century.

          India’s influence is present in the lives of contemporary Southeast Asia.  Some of our languages are based on Sanskrit or Pali.  A former capital of Thailand is named Ayuthia and the present King is also known as Rama IX.  The national airline of Indonesia is called Garuda, from the Indian epic, Ramayana.  Generations of Javanese have been brought up watching wayang kulit and listening to the stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata.  The Indian influence is reflected in the languages we speak, the religions we practise, the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the music we listen to.

 

Singapore and British India

 

          In the case of Singapore, Raffles brought with him Indian soldiers, traders and workers when he arrived in 1819.  Several of the iconic buildings of Singapore, such as, the Istana and the Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, were built by Indian labour.  From 1819 to 1867, Singapore was administered by the British from Calcutta (Kolkata).  Many of our laws, such as, our Penal Code, the law of evidence, etc. are based on Indian laws.  As a result, there are many commonalities between our two legal systems and the public administration.   A new Indian Heritage Centre will be opened later this year.  It will showcase the historical, cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries.

 

Gandhi and Nehru

 

          Second, the founding father of India is Mahatma Gandhi.  Many Singaporeans admired his moral crusade against the British for the independence of India by non-violent means.  They also admired his life-long campaign for amity between the followers of the different religions in India.  There is a Gandhi Memorial Hall in Singapore.

          Pandit Nehru, the founding Prime Minister of India was another heroic figure for many Singaporeans.  The founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, was an admirer of Nehru and often sought his advice.  When Nehru passed away in 1964, Lee Kuan Yew spoke at a condolence service held on 30 May 1964.  In November 2011, then PM Manmohan Singh and Singapore’s former PM, Goh Chok Tong, unveiled a marker and bust to honour the memory of Nehru at the Asian Civilizations Museum.

 

Defence Cooperation

 

          Third, Singapore has close defence cooperation with India.  We have bilateral agreements between our two armies and air forces. The strong military ties between the two countries reflect the mutual trust and high comfort level which exist between the leaders of the two countries.

 

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

 

          Fourth, in 2005, India and Singapore concluded the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CECA).  CECA was a milestone for both countries.  It represented Singapore’s first agreement with a country in South Asia.  It was India’s first agreement with any trade partner and a model for other free trade agreements.  Since CECA came into force, the volumes of trade and investment between India and Singapore have continued to grow.  Last year, Singapore became India’s largest foreign investor.  India’s investment and corporate presence in Singapore have scaled new heights.  Tata, Punj Lloyd, Infosys, NatSteel, Voltas, Ramco and Tech Mahindra are some of the leading Indian companies with a major presence in Singapore.

 

Singapore Companies In India

 

          Fifth, there are over 500 Singapore companies which are operating in India.  They are active in the following industries:

·        telecommunications (Singtel)

·        industrial parks, real estate and urban solutions (Ascendas, Capitaland, Surbana and Jurong Consultants)

·        ports (PSA International)

·        power generation (Semcorp)

·        logistics and distriparks (YCH Logistics and Gateway)

·        financial services (DBS)

·        civil aviation (SIA and Tata)

·        water and waste management (Hyflux)

 

Confidence in PM Narendra Modi

 

          Sixth, the Singapore Government and private sector have confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  This confidence is based on his good track record as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

          The 2015 Union Budget has been well received.  It contains a roadmap and is focused on the ease of doing business and radically improving India’s infrastructure.

          We share the confidence of our Indian friends that the Indian economy will grow by more than 7 percent this year and by more than 8 percent next year.  We intend to participate in the Indian growth story.

 

Iconic Project In Andra Pradesh

 

          Seventh, we thank the Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh,  Chandrababu Naidu, for requesting Singapore in helping to master plan the new capital of his state.  This is a once in a life-time opportunity and we are determined to live up to India’s expectations. 

 

Conclusion

 

          In conclusion, I wish to reiterate our thanks to the people and government of India for honouring our founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.  Our relationship is comprehensive and substantial.  Our friendship is anchored in both our heads and our hearts.  Singapore is and will always be India’s champion and dependable friend in ASEAN.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                     Tommy Koh

                                                                                                                                                      Ambassador-At-Large

                                                                                                                                                          Co-Chairman, ISSD