Recently, when I saw how Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed Singapore’s parliament about Trump’s tariff war, my heart sank.
When I heard it, I felt that it will be Singapore that will emerge the winner in the ASEAN region, regardless of whether it is the US or China that will win the tariff wars.
Lawrence’s speech, if it is an indication of the Singaporean leadership's state of mind , was confidence inspiring.
It showed that Singapore’s leadership has thought deeply about the origin of the Tariff wars, is aware of its root causes, have realistic views of their position and limit, are aware of their options, are able to predict the impact of the war on their economy and have a plan to address their predicament.
Despite the anxieties and worries that the tariffs war is presenting to the world, if I was a Singaporean, if I heard how PM Lawrence looks at the problem it is facing, I will at least be reassured that no matter how bad things get, my country has a plan and a leadership with the intelligence, foresight and competence to do what is necessary to weather the situation.
Sadly, as a Malaysian listening to what our ministers and prime ministers are saying, I cannot share one sixteenth of the confidence and reassurance that a Singaporean must be feeling.
All I hear and see on my side of the border, sadly, when the skies are darkening and water is leaking into the boat, is the sound and sight of my captain and his first officer coming up with all sorts of plots and schemes to undermine and weaken each other, oblivious to the trouble that the boat is in, while the officers on the deck are all busy quarreling with each other about petty matters involving ham sandwiches and the antics of radio DJ's, like drunks who had too much to drink.
When I look at my ship called Malaysia, and compare it to Singapore’s, all I feel like doing is sighing.
Rather than Singaporean, who I feel has the good fortune of being able to rely on his boat and crew, all I think I can do is look at the mirror and tell myself to be strong, as well as turn to the sky and pray that Fate will be kind and Fortune will look upon me with favour.
I feel that everything else around me is going to try to drown me as it sinks, and the only thing that will be able to keep me afloat, and perhaps even take me to safety, is myself, Fate and Fortune.
Anyway, to read for yourself the text of the Singaporean prime minister’s address to parliament that has made me sigh about our own leaders, click here.
The video of his speech is as below.
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