By Professor Tommy Koh: Why ASEAN is good for Singapore

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The Asean Charter prescribes that the chairmanship of Asean shall rotate annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of the member states.

Singapore is the chairman for 2018. What are the roles and duties of the chairman? The first duty is to chair practically all the meetings of Asean, at every level and in every sector. At last count, Asean holds about 1,000 meetings a year.

The Asean Charter confers on the Asean chairman the following roles:

  • to actively promote and enhance the interests and well-being of Asean;
  • to ensure the centrality of Asean;
  • to ensure an effective and timely response to urgent issues and crisis situations, including providing its good offices; and
  • to represent Asean in strengthening and promoting closer relations with external partners.

Of the 10 Asean countries, the Singapore Government is one of the strongest supporters of Asean.

It is therefore disappointing to read that in a survey carried out by Blackbox recently, the Singapore public ranks last in its favourable attitude towards Asean.

Only 77 per cent of the Singaporeans surveyed had a favourable or very favourable view of Asean, compared with 85 per cent for all Asean countries.

Furthermore, 16 per cent of Singaporeans had an unfavourable view of Asean, as compared with 10 per cent for all Asean countries.

The purpose of this essay is to explain the importance of Asean to Singaporeans.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Asean brings enormous benefits to Singapore and Singaporeans.

The best way to demonstrate this is to remind Singaporeans that our domestic market consists of 5.6 million consumers. Under the Asean Economic Community, the ambition is to integrate the 10 economies into a single market and production base. This means that our domestic market is not 5.6 million but 628 million consumers.

The Asean economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It is currently the world’s seventh-largest economy. It is predicted that, by 2030, Asean could become the fourth-largest economy in the world.

Asean has a large and growing middle class. It has a relatively young population.

Unlike the protectionist trend elsewhere, Asean remains committed to free trade, regional integration and open economies.

As an example, Asean is currently driving the negotiation of a mega free trade agreement, involving Asean and six other economies, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

When concluded, RCEP will be one of the biggest free trade areas in the world.

POLITICAL BENEFITS

What political benefits has Asean brought to Singapore and Singaporeans? The most important benefit is peace. Without peace, no economic endeavour would have been possible. Without peace, the minds of men and the resources of the Asean countries would have been focused on making mischief instead of development.

Without peace, Singapore’s journey from the Third World to the First would have been more difficult, if not impossible.

For the past 50 years, Asean has maintained the peace in South-east Asia. No two Asean countries have gone to war during this period.

For this reason, Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffrey Sng have proposed in their book, The Asean Miracle, that the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to Asean.

Another political benefit which Asean has brought to Singapore is that it has been able to establish partnerships with 10 major partners which, in chronological order, are: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the European Union, the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and India.

Because Asean is a successful regional organisation and because it has an open and inclusive attitude towards its external stakeholders, the leaders of its dialogue partners come annually to meet with the leaders of Asean and to participate in Asean-led forums such as the Asean Plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea), Asean Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit.

Without Asean, none of the 10 member states would be able to attract the leaders of the most important countries of the world to meet annually with them. There is no better illustration of the importance of Asean unity and centrality than this.

OTHER BENEFITS

Asean has brought other benefits to Singapore and Singaporeans.

Asean is probably the most diverse regional organisation in the world. We speak different languages, worship different gods and have different forms of government. However, in spite of our differences, we have succeeded, over time and with much effort, in developing a sense of regional identity and solidarity.

This sense of solidarity has enabled Asean to respond promptly and effectively, to emergencies and crises such as Sars in 2003, the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Cyclone Nargis in 2008. I hope Asean will find it possible to play a helpful role in the humanitarian crisis in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Over the past 50 years, the governments and peoples of Asean have developed a culture of consultation, mutual accommodation and cooperation.

This ethos is very precious because the region faces many challenges which cannot be solved by any state alone. These challenges include climate change, terrorism, the trafficking of men, women and child, migration, refugees, transboundary pollution, conservation of biodiversity, and the health of the oceans and seas.

In addition to raising the standard of living and well-being of the citizens of Asean, the regional organisation has also helped to enhance the social, cultural and human rights of its citizens.

The establishment of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, the adoption of the Asean Human Rights Declaration and the Asean Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children are important milestones.

There is one other achievement of Asean worth noting. Asean is committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes. It is also enjoined by the Charter to uphold the United Nations Charter, international law and international humanitarian law.

In other words, Asean supports the international rule of law.

SINGAPORE’S CHAIRMANSHIP

Singapore will have a busy year chairing Asean. Until August this year, Singapore will continue to be the Asean coordinator for Asean-China relations.

After August, Singapore will be the Asean coordinator for Asean-EU relations. This is an important relationship as the EU is Asean’s largest investor and second-largest trading partner.

The theme which Singapore has chosen for its chairmanship is Resilience and Innovation.

We want to enhance Asean’s collective resilience against such threats as terrorism, violent extremism, transnational crimes, cybercrimes and so on.

We also need to strengthen our unity and resilience in the face of more intense competition for influence by the great powers.

Asean must never allow itself to be divided. We want Asean to be more innovative to take advantage of the opportunities created by the sharing economy, the digital economy, e-commerce, e-payment, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and so on.

The ambition is to connect the 628 million citizens of Asean digitally so that they can make cross-border transactions seamlessly. The ambition is to create an Asean network of smart cities. The ambition is to connect the hubs in various Asean countries for start-ups.

Asean has brought many benefits to Singapore and Singaporeans. I hope that, after reading this column, more Singaporeans will have a favourable view towards Asean.

At the handing-over ceremony in Manila in November last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: “Asean has built a stable, open and inclusive regional architecture, one that has brought about security, growth and development for our people.” I agree with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who said recently that Asean has a bright future and Singapore will use our chairmanship to help build that bright future.

Tembusu College Showcases Students’ Works at NUS Arts Festival 2017

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In AY2016/2017 Semester 1, Singapore as ‘Model” City? Senior Seminar collaborated with the NUS Centre for the Arts (CFA) to turn Alice Lee Plaza, a transitory space, into a meaningful art and cultural gateway. Through students’ interventions, we managed to enliven this space and engage the public in a conversation on reimagining the city and urban experience, first through a one-night exhibition, and later through a showcase of selected works during the NUS Arts Festival 2017.

Professor Tommy Koh gets special tribute for contributions

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ST editors said that Professor Tommy Koh “has brought the best of humanity to his country, even as he took the best of Singapore to the world”.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

As a diplomat, Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh has been a tireless champion for Singapore, standing up for his small country in a chaotic world. For his lifelong efforts, Professor Koh was given a special tribute yesterday.

Editors of The Straits Times yesterday paid tribute to his indefatigable defence of a rules-based global order, noting that he has also championed the arts, the environment and civic engagement during his long career in the public service.

Prof Koh deserves a special tribute “for the way he has brought the best of humanity to his country, even as he took the best of Singapore to the world”, they said in a citation. “He has stood up for a rules-based order in a chaotic world. He displayed a tireless readiness to work towards compromise in the most difficult diplomatic situations, able to make his points unambiguously without leaving lasting wounds. This has won him both admiration and respect from his friends and adversaries around the world.”

Prof Koh has chaired two United Nations panels of global importance – the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea that concluded in 1982, and a decade later, the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Conference.

His skills in negotiation are internationally recognised – Harvard University gave him its Great Negotiator Award in 2014.

Prof Koh was chief negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, and was in the team that successfully argued the case for Singapore’s claim to Pedra Branca at the International Court of Justice. He is also a key figure in Singapore’s semi-official strategic dialogues with Asia’s three most powerful nations – China, Japan and India.

In a recent interview with ST, Prof Koh said that when he negotiates, he tries to develop a relationship with the person he is dealing with.

“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 said.

Beyond diplomacy, Prof Koh has also been a champion of the arts, the environment and civil society, and an outspoken advocate of civic engagement.

He was the founding chairman of the National Arts Council from 1991 to 1996, sat on the board of the Esplanade, and chaired the National Heritage Board.

Prof Koh, who turned 80 last month, is also a frequent contributor to The Straits Times, where he is a star guest columnist.

He shares his wisdom on topics ranging from diplomacy and international law to values and beliefs that he hopes his two grandchildren will grow up with.

Prof Koh told The Straits Times last night: “I am very grateful for the award, and I hope I will live up to your expectations.”

“This is a very special 80th birthday present. It caught me by surprise, and I am deeply grateful,” he added.

By Professor Tommy Koh: The world in Singapore

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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. 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.

Tembusu Fellow, Dr John van Wyhe on NUS News

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Evolution Day on 24 November commemorates the anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species 

On this day in 1859, Charles Darwin published a 500-page volume titled On the Origin of Species, a book that became one of the most important scientific literature, which laid the foundation for our understanding of evolutionary biology. The book compiled Darwin’s research and evidence gathered over two decades, and introduced the theory that species change and evolve over the course of generations.

Dr John van Wyhe from NUS Biological Sciences and Tembusu College is a historian of science whose expertise is on evolutionists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. He noted that while On the Origin of Species was one of the most revolutionary books in the history of science, there are still widely held misconceptions about what happened when the book debuted 158 years ago.

“The research of historians of science has shown that there was no great clash of science versus religion. Darwin’s book was not banned by the Pope and it was not burned in the streets”, said Dr van Wyhe.

It was quite the contrary, he explained, as Christian geologists had already determine the world to be ancient and had uncovered fossils of extinct creatures even before Darwin’s book appeared. Thus, in just 10 to 15 years after On the Origin of Species was published, Darwin’s theory of evolution had been accepted, and till this day shapes our understanding of the world and continues to inform the work that scientists do.

Read more of Dr van Wyhe’s views, as well as examples of discoveries by NUS Biological Sciences researchers on various flora and fauna that build upon Darwin’s seminal work.

Dr van Wyhe is also the founder and director of Darwin Online, a comprehensive online archive of historical writings and materials related to Darwin, including On the Origin of Species.

This article is found on NUS News.

Congratulations to Professor Tommy Koh on receiving the Mochtar Kusumaatmadja Award

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Tembusu College would like to send our heartiest congratulations to Professor Tommy Koh received the inaugural Mochtar Kusumaatmadja Award, which acknowledges prominent academics and practitioners who have contributed significantly to the field of international law.

You can find the article here: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/tommy-koh-honoured-for-contributions-to-international-law 

Congratulations to Margaret Tan on the advent of the ‘Flows and Contours in Tropical Asia’ Mural

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Tembusu College would like to send our heartiest congratulations to Dr Margaret Tan on the completion and unveiling of the ‘Flows and Contours in Tropical Asia’ mural at AS8. Margaret was a key member of the curatorial team, alongside Drs Suriani Suratman and Priya Maholay-Jaradi, and was directly involved in the painting of the mural itself.

To read more about the mural and the people involved, please go to : http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/as8-mural-wall.html