BEYOND SG

Calls on Syrian President, PM and FM

On Sunday morning, I called on Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Presidential Palace. The palace grounds were lovely, set on a hill. The building itself was stately without being garish or ostentatious.

President Bashar, a trained opthamologist, welcomed me warmly. He spoke fluent English. Having been influenced by the western media, I was pleasantly surprised by his rationality and open-mindedness. He spoke positively of President Obama's new approach to the problems of the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of not losing momentum. At the same time, he took a realistic view of what was possible. President Bashar recognised the growing importance of Asia and viewed Syria's relations with Singapore in that light. We agreed that much could be done to expand our economic cooperation. Tourism is one obvious sector where opportunities abound. The Prime Minister, whom I met later that morning, informed me that Shria needed another 100,000 beds for the tourism industry. It should also be easy to increase the flow of two-way trade.

A new chapter has opened in Singapore's relations with Syria with the establishment of diplomatic relations last year. FM Moualem happily accepted my invitation to visit Singapore and promised to come early.

George Yeo

Minister calling on President Bashar Al-Assad

 

President Bashar bidding farewell to Minister

 

PM Mohammad Naji Al-Otari greeting Minister

 

Minister calling on PM Mohammad Najai Al-Otari

 

FM Walid showing Minister and Mrs Yeo in the restaurant

  

Lunch with FM Walid and Mrs Walid

 

Gift Exchange

Meeting Singapore Students in Damascus

In recent years, the number of Muslim religious students studying in various institutions in Damascus has grown.  There are now about 70 of them in Syria.  The Islam taught here is moderate reflecting the philosophy of the multi-religious Syrian state.  The cost of studying in Syria is also not expensive. The Syrians are  a warm and friendly people who would readily extend assistance to our young men and women.  MUIS now endorses Syria as a good country for our religious students to go too.

 

MUIS makes special efforts to keep in touch with our religious students overseas.  Dr Bakrie has become my travel companion.  Three years ago, he brought me to visit our students in Yemen, and last year our students in Cairo.

 

On Saturday night, I hosted dinner for our students in Damascus including family members. My wife and I were very touched by the preparations they made for our gathering.  The religious students wore robes which they tailored for the occasion, each costing about S$50 I was told.  They  look pretty smart in them. They also put up a small performance and gave us gifts.

 

One problem they face is the difficulty of getting student visas.   Visas

are tightly controlled because of the government's fear of radical students from abroad.  I raised this issue with the Syrian Foreign Minister.  He responded positively when I proposed a government-to-government agreement as we also do not want to send them radical students.  MFA will now work with MUIS on this.

 

George Yeo

 

 

Dinner Reception with Singaporean Student Community in Syria

Greeting Singaporeans

 

 

 

 

Making remarks

 

 

Presentation of Table Flag

 

 

Performance by students

 

 

At the dinning table

 

 

Dr Al-Balkri with Sophie

 

 

 

Group Photo

 

Group Photo

 

Photo with Singaporean family

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to Aleppo

Aleppo is the name of a distant place I first encountered reading about the Crusades and later in Shakespeare's Macbeth while in secondary school.  I never imagined one day visiting Aleppo until a few weeks ago when the Grand Mufti of Syria, Shaikh Dr Ahmad Bader Eddin al-Hassoun, who is from Aleppo, invited me to visit.  We met when he was in Singapore to deliver MUIS' Distinguished Visitor's Lecture and knew I was going to Syria on a bilateral visit.

 

As the Aleppo airport was temporarily shut down for repairs, I went by road (actually a beautiful highway) from Damascus, a journey of 4 over hours.It was a smooth ride with rather pleasant rest stops (clean toilets, cups of coffee and tea and all kinds of delightful pastries).

 

The Grand Mufti welcomed the Singapore delegation with the greatest warmth and hospitality.  I attended Friday prayers at his mosque and was invited to address the congregation after his sermon.  There was a short reception afterwards when I was introduced to the Catholic Armenian Archibishop Msgr Boutros Mariati.  We then went to the Grand Mufti's house for a lunch which his wife had personally prepared.  As with all Syrian meals, it was a large spread.

 

We then went for a quick tour of the great citadel built by Saladin which looked a little like the fortress in the Lord of the Rings.  Later in the afternoon, the Grand Mufti invited me to attend Mass at the Catholic Armenian Church.  Archbishop Mariati embraced us when we arrived.  The Mass was said in both Armenian and Arabic.  The Armenian rite is somewhat different from the Latin rite but recognisably Catholic.  Holy Communion was served to the mouth with the bread dipped into wine.

 

After Mass, Archbishop Mariati spoke words of welcome to both the Grand Mufti and to me.  I was invited to speak first. The Grand Mufti then gave a moving sermon about motherhood.  At the reception, a number of ladies expressed their high regard for the Grand Mufti. A nun said that he was a mufti for all Syrians.

When the Grand Mufti was in Singapore, he impressed everyone he met with his open mind, his big heartedness, his wisdom and his spirituality. Religion serves human beings, not the other way around.  Human beings are more important than temples, mosques or churches.  Countries should be organised on a secular basis, not a religioius basis, so that citizens of all faiths are fairly treated.  The policy of the Syrian state towards religion is not unlike what we have in Singapore.

 

Before I went to Syria, Aleppo seemed very far away.  It is no longer so in my mind and in my heart.

 

George Yeo

 

Sheikh Ahmad delivering his Sermon

 

 

 

Making remarks at Friday prayers

 

Minister and Sheikh making their way out

 

Sheikh Ahmad introducing selected attendees of the Friday prayers

 

Sheikh Ahmad presenting a verse from the Koran to Minister

 

 

 

At Sheikh Ahmad residence

 

Sheikh Ahmad serving Minister food at lunch

 

Group photo on the rooftop of Sheikh Ahmad's residence

 

 

With Sheikh Ahmad and the Arch-Bishop on a swing

 

Mass at the Armenian Church

 

Minister and Mrs Yeo receiving the Holy Communion

 

Making remarks

 

Archbishop presenting Armenian handicraft to Minister

 

Group photo at the Armenian Church

 

 

Bidding farewell

 

Group photo at the Citadel

 

 

 At the top of the Citadel

 

 

Remarks in Aleppo - Video Links

Remarks at the Friday prayers and the Armenian mass in Aleppo

http://www.viddler.com/explore/mfasingapore/videos/3/

http://www.viddler.com/explore/mfasingapore/videos/4/

George Yeo

Damascus

I arrived in Damascus on Thursday on a bilateral visit at the invitation of Syrian FMMr Moualem.  Singapore and Syria  only established diplomatic relations last year.  Damascus is the world's oldest continually-inhabited city and has a special character.  Its layers of civilization go back thousands of years.  The history of Syria told in its National Museum is a longitudinal slice of world history going back to the very beginning of human civilization.  Despite US sanctions, the Syrian economy has done rather well in the last few years.  There is a  middle class air about the place.  One does not see the poverty or crowding of Cairo.  The people are warm and friendly.  Food is plentiful.  The fruits and vegetables are fresh and luscious.  Some of the eggplants are the size of papayas.  As Singaporeans, we feel guilty about leaving so much uneaten food on the table but here in Syria, it is considered normal.

 

The Umayyad Mosque, one of the most holy places in the Islamic world, is fascinating. It was built on the site of a Christian church which was in turn built on the site of a Roman temple.  Huge, it houses two human heads- the head of John the Baptist and the head of Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohamed.  Nearby is the modest tomb of the great Saladin.

 

Damascus is also the story of St Paul.  Although Syria is a predominantly Muslim country, its Christian heritage is everywhere.  Chrisitian sites are well looked after.

 

George Yeo

 

Guide explaining setup of Musuem

 

 

The Palmyr mural

 

Close up of the murals

 

Private meal at Naranj Restaurant

 

At Naranj Restaurant with mosque in the background

 

At St Anania's House

 

 

 

Viewing drawings on the conversion of St Paul

 

On the Road called Straight, in front of the Bab

 

With spear and shield at a shop

 

Having ice cream

 

At the Church of St Paul

 

With Dr Albakri at the tomb of Saladin

 

Group photo outside the tomb of Saladin

 

The Dome of the Treasury

 

Lesson from a Young Man

I am doing a complex deal comprising several business partners and one of the difficulties is aligning them to share a common purpose. Throw in money, timeline (want it yesterday and don’t call me while you wait) and perhaps a bit of my own greed, it is tough managing all the partners. This morning I met my good friend Robin who was one of the outstanding stars we hired many years ago and had left to do his own business. He watched the China-produced "Romance of the three Kingdoms Lecture" (not to be confused with the Red Cliff movies or the excellent TV series). It is a series of business and life lessons learnt from the famous war epic on DVD. Robin shared this with me 

 

Cao Cao, the movies portrayed him as a sex-crazed, egomaniacal despot but historically, he is the ruler-hero. Cao Cao used the Jim Collin's (Fall of the Mighty, Good to Great) method of people's management - "Window and Mirror". When things screw up, look at the mirror and blame yourself and take responsibility. When things go well, look outside the mirror and point at someone who gave you the idea for success and pay tribute and acknowledge that success to him. And always align people through sharing of the pie.

 

In the midst of Excel spreadsheet myopia (cant think of a better word), I lost focus on the human element. I forgot to clarify, simplify and share. I am rectifying it right now as I speak.

I am turning 40 this month and it is a humble reminder that a young man can teach me some business lessons. The day I think I know everything, please give me a hard kick.

 

Thanks Robin.

Brains Surgery and Sports- Of Things to come

This is from New York Times. A female runner suffered from acute frequent epilepsy that ruined her daily life, convulsing with foam and blood. So a top surgery team removed that part of her brain that caused her to have seizures. And the strange outcome is this - no more epilepsy (total cure) but she gained the Harold Fock infamous illness- inability to tell directions and organize her life. (For the record, I have three GPS devices in my car!)

 

Now, she keeps winning gruesome marathon races because her brains has no limits in terms of tiredness. She knows when to rest (due to biological feedback) but her willpower is beyond human's "limitations" because there is no limit at all! An ex-Commando pal, Peter, told me at one point in his training, he could not stop running because his brain jammed and his legs just went on and on. It sounded like macho crap told at the pub to impress the girls. Now we know it is possible. The mind has untapped power.

 

In years to come, we may have brain surgery-enhanced, drug-free Olympians soon.

 

Harold Fock

Tatarstan

Tatarstan, one of the republics in the Russian Federation, has sent an incredibly high level delegation to Singapore for two weeks consisting of two DPMs, one for each week, about ten ministers and many officials.  They are interested in all aspects of Singapore society.  Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs provide common background reading for all of them.  The Tatars are the descendants of the Mongols of the Golden Horde who once ruled Russia before the tables were turned by the Princes of Muscovy.  Ethnic Russians make up over 40% of the population of Tatarstan.  The ethnic Tatars themselves are mostly of  mixed blood, many looking more European than Asian.  I had a lively breakfast session with the delegation at MFA on Wednesday morning and told them how flattered we are by their great interest in the Singapore model of development.  More importantly, this interest opens up opportunities for mutually-beneficial economic cooperation.

 

George Yeo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hainan Governor Luo Baoming's Meeting and Lunch with Minister, 6 July 2009

Hainan Governor Luo Baoming visited Singapore with a big delegation to promote closer economic links. Hainan is China's smallest province with a population of over 8m and a land area of 34,000 sq kim. Hainan, Guangdong and Fujian are of course the three provinces where most Chinese in Singapore came from originally. Compared to Guangdong and Fujian, however, our links to Hainan island are relatively weak. In the last 5 years, Hainan province has made great strides. A round-island railway is now operating and a high speed train will reduce travelling time from Haikou to Sanya in a little more than an hour. By 2020, the island will be linked to Zhanjiang Peninsula on the Chinese Mainland by a bridge.

George Yeo

With Hainan Governor Luo Baoming

 

The Sea as the Original Internet

On Wednesday, I visited the old fort and archaelogical site at Dilmun. There are several layers of history, the earliest going back more than 2000 years before Christ. Because of its strategic location, Bahrain has been a centre of trade over the centuries. It is blessed with fresh water springs, some spouting out from the seabed. A natural opening through the coral reef enabled ships to come close. Dilmun is now a World Heritage Site.

At the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, I made the point that ASEAN and GCC countries were linked by the maritime silk road. The sea was the original internet. Once one reached the sea, one could sail to the farthest shores. Hence ports and portals. Like TCP/IP, those who trade must accept certain protocols - common standards, open connections, protection of property. Trading posts are like servers.

Bahrain and Singapore are both important nodes in the global trading network. We are islands of about the same size, linked by causeways to the mainland. Not surprisingly, we share similar attitudes and worldviews. Our political relations are problem-free. Our economic relations are growing nicely. A number of Bahraini banks have set up shop in Singapore. We have a few major investments in Bahrain including real estate and aircraft maintenance. I was hosted to a dinner at a new new-age Japanese restaurant called Bushido. The executive chef is TK Chong, a Singaporean, whom I have met many times before at Santoro Japanese Restaurant.

George Yeo

At the bay

 

Excavation works in progress

 

View of excavation site from the port

 

Under the archway

 

The Fort

 

Viewing write-up of Qalat Al Bahrain

 

Viewing of Dilmun stamp seals

 

Graphical display of trading routes

 

Replica of a Dilmun ship

Bahrain's F1 Circuit

Before the ASEAN-GCC Dinner hosted by the PM, I was invited to tour the F1 circuit in Bahrain.  The weather was HOT, over 40 degrees.  After the briefing, the British manager of the circuit asked me if I wanted a joy ride around the circuit in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia.  Naturally I accepted.

 

It was quite exciting.  At the straight part, we hit 240 km/h, around the turns easily over 100 km/h.  On the second right, his mobile started ringing.  He whipped it out and started talking slowing down just a little.

 

I must admit to being more than a little concerned.  Later he told me it was his boss calling.  I expressed understanding.  What else could I say?

We then went over to the Hummer course which was great fun.  This cross-country vehicle can go up and down frightfully steep slopes, even climb steps.  You can sign up for a course to drive this incredible machine.  How much does it cost?  US$50K.  There is a more affordable smaller version.

 

 

George Yeo

 

 

Observing race track in observer tower

 

 

In the Ferrari

 

 

 

On the race track

 

 

With Mark and the Ferrari

 

 

In the Hummer

 

Offroading - going down the steep slope

 

Offroading - navigating the hump

 

 

Race control room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASEAN-GCC Meeting

On Monday and Tuesday, the ASEAN and GCC Foreign Ministers had their first formal meeting.  The Gulf Cooperation Council consists of Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.  We've been meeting in smaller combinations at the UN every year during the General Assembly but as everyone is in a rush, the meetings never created the human bonding that you need to achieve substantive cooperation.

 

Bahrain played the perfect host. FM Sheikh Khalid is a big jolly fellow who envelopes you by his warmth and friendship.  For the meeting, a gazebo by the beach was glassed up and air-conditioned.  We could not have asked for a better setting.  We agreed to study the advantages of an FTA between ASEAN and the GCC, map out a wider framework of economic cooperation including food and energy security, and consider ways to improve cultural, educational and information exchange.

 

On Monday night, the PM hosted a lavish welcome dinner at the Ritz Carlton. After the meeting ended, the King  hosted us to a more intimate lunch at one of his palaces with the Crown Prince, PM and many ministers also present.

 

The FMs will meet again in a year's time in ASEAN, probably in Vietnam which will be chairing ASEAN.

 

George Yeo

 

 

PM Shaikh Khalifa explaining the tradtional crafts to the FMs

 

 

 

With Bagrain Housing Minister Sheikh Ebrahim

 

 

 

With Bahrain Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed

 

 

Conversing with Malaysia FM Anifah Aman

 

 

 

Conversing with Oan FM Yusuf bin Alawi

 

 

Group Photo

 

 

 

ASEAN-GCC FMs' Retreat

 

 

 

Eurasiana - A Musical Tribute

Friday night's presentation of Eurasiana was graced by President and Mrs Nathan. It was a huge success, a celebration of the Eurasian community in Singapore. There was a special tribute at the end to recognise Eurasians who contributed so much to Singapore's national development like E W Barker and Benjamin Sheares. Iskander Ismail as conductor of the Singapore Pop Orchestra had a wonderful chemistry with everyone on stage which in turn connected them to all of us in the audience.

I contributed a message as the Minister representing the Eurasian community in Cabinet.

Message

 Eurasiana, A Musical Tribute, tells the story of a community. Though small, the Eurasian community is an integral part of Singapore society with a history going back 500 years ago when the Portuguese first arrived in our part of the world. When different human groups meet, whether for trade or as a result of conquest, it is inevitable that blood and culture mix. It is this encounter that has created the Eurasian community in Singapore which is naturally and organically linked to Eurasian communities elsewhere in Asia.

When ethnic relations are good, there is greater mixing which enables the Eurasian community to grow and flourish. When the races are polarised, the Eurasian community suffers as members prefer affiliation to larger communities. For this reason, the vitality of the Eurasian community in Singapore is a good barometer of the state of ethnic relations in Singapore.

In a new age of globalisation, with new waves of migration into Singapore, conditions are favourable for the growth of the Eurasian community. One can sense a New Eurasian spirit developing.

The Eurasian Association (EA) celebrates its 90th Anniversary this year. It is now well-established as one of the four Self-Help Groups in Singapore. The EA's mission is to assist Eurasians through education, sports and the arts. EA's Family Support Services ensure that families in need receive support from various government and non-government agencies.

The EA also promotes Eurasian culture as a living heritage. While preserving aspects of our culture and tradition is important, we must also evolve with the rest of Singapore society. We might be a small minority group but our contribution to Singapore is special. Like the shrimp paste which gives rojak its flavour, a vibrant Eurasian community adds much to the diversity of life in Singapore. Over the years, Eurasians have made big contributions to Singapore in all fields from politics and economics to sports and entertainment.

Fifty years ago, Singapore became self-governing with its own flag and anthem. That was also the time when four arms representing the four races were linked together expressing our multiracial ideal. Because we have been united as one people, there is much to celebrate and I congratulate the Eurasians of Singapore and the Eurasian Association for helping make Singapore what it is today.

George Yeo

Rompin-Endau National Park

My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary deep in the Malaysian forest without any telephone connection. The road there from Kahang turned out to be much worse than we expected, potholed all the way once we transited from oil palm plantations to jungle. It was pitch darkness until we arrived at about 8.30pm. The small cluster of chalets which welcomed us was a spot of civilization in the vast wilderness. We had a good dinner of Malay food and very good durians which a group of Kulim planters generously shared with us. We slept well even though the giant geckos crawling on the walls outside made frequent noises. A symphony of bird calls woke us up in the morning. When we entered the toilet to wash, gecko droppings were everywhere even though we did not see even one throughout our stay there.

After a breakfast of nasi lemak and pratha, we took a boat ride on a nearby river. It was shallow. In flood, the river gets much wider. Floods during the monsoons in the last two years had washed away most of the bridges and scoured the road surfaces. The pristine forests on both sides, with their abundance of vegetation, were magnificent. We were tiny creatures on a bark intruding into Mother Nature.

After the boat ride, my two younger sons and I were brought on a trek, along a loggers' trail to the bank of a river. My wife and her parents wisely opted out because it turned out to be quite a strenuous hike. On the dry boulders of a waterfall, we had our lunch of nasi minyak, fried chicken and sambal udang. We then forded a stream to see the habitat of a protected species of fish, the ikan kelar. Leeches were everywhere, on land and in the water. They clamber on to our legs and go about their meals silently. I wasn't bitten but my driver Hassan discovered one that was an inch long and a quarter inch fat on his ankle. He poured salt on it which caused the parasite to disgorge the blood that it had sucked, a disgusting sight which we all watched with the greatest fascination.

Throughout our day's adventure, our guide Francis from the National Park Authority pointed out all kinds of wonderful things to us, from the tracks of wild animals to patterns of plant growth, to rock formations. We also learnt much about animals that we were happy not to see like tigers and snakes. We ended our trek by rafting back to our starting point. As hardly any rain had fallen in the previous weeks, the river carried little water and we had to do some hard paddling.

George Yeo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PM's Bilateral Visit to Korea

Following the ASEAN-ROK Summit, PM Lee proceeded to Seoul for a short bilateral visit.  PM Lee met members of the Singapore community, was hosted to lunch by PM Han Seung-soo and dinner by President Lee Myung-bak.  He also met Korean business leaders.  Both leaders agreed to consider establishing a Korean cultural centre in Singapore.

George Yeo

Meeting with Overseas Singaporeans

With Singaporean Businessmen

Group Photo with Singaporean Students

Lunch hosted by ROK Prime Minister Han Seung-soo at the Prime Minister's Residence

With ROK Amb Kim in the Courtyard of the PM's Residence

 

PM Making Remarks At Lunch

Minister Leaving the dining hall

 

Delegation Meeting with ROK President Lee Myung-bak at the Blue House

 Singaporean Flag Fluttering at the Blue House

PM shaking hands with President Lee

Delegation Meeting

Dinner Hosted by ROK President Lee Myung-bak at the Blue House Everspring Pavilion

Walking Past Ceremonial Guards

Talking to President Lee at Pre-Dinner Drinks

 

With President Lee, PM and Legislator Park at Pre-dinner Drinks

President Lee Proposing Toast

Others

Honour Guard at the Airport for PM's arrival in Seoul

PM Making Remarks before Dinner with Korean Businessmen

PM Meeting Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoon Jeung-Hyun