When Speaking Softly..
.. Is A Big Stick
Smallish Singapore hasn't any big stick to carry, but sometimes speaking softly is just as effective. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Dec 1, 2000

This is the best way to describe Singapore's low-decibel response to the Indonesian president's outburst.

Apart from issuing factual clarifications to Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid's charges and avoiding a tit-for-tat, the leaders here may have defused the prospect of a deeper rift.

"We are a practical, rational people. We do not have to react to every emotional statement from Indonesian leaders," said Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. "I think we (should) just be consistent in our position, and just ride whatever rhetoric that may come forth, ride the waves."

There was no need to over-react or be agitated about it, said his Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "We have to see our ties on a long-term basis….These are matters which have to be resolved calmly and rationally and based on facts."

And Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew earlier refuted the Indonesian allegation that he had told Mr. Wahid that in two years investment in Indonesia would be difficult as long as Indonesians did not trust the elite.

What he did say was "until Indonesia's leaders restore order in Indonesia, investor confidence will be weak."

There was no expression of anger. But the mild response has a more effective ring than any hard counter-punch. It is one of those times when speaking softly itself is a big stick.

The reason? Singapore does not see Wahid's proposal for Indonesia and Malaysia to cut water supply as an official Indonesian position. (No water is coming from Indonesia anyway).

Secondly, it sees no benefit in counter-attacking because he is already being criticised inside Indonesia. However irrational, Mr. Wahid represents an important and friendly neighbour and closing the door on him would be harmful to Singapore's interests.

Has the furore effected the plan for Indonesia to sell water to Singapore? I do not think so.

The two countries signed the water agreement in 1991 to build undersea pipelines from Riau Province (through Bintan and Batam) to Singapore. When the US $1.7 billion project is completed in 2005 Indonesia will supply 4.5 billion litres of water a day.

It has taken 35 years for relationship to reach the current state of maturity. It will take more than one or two emotional outbursts to destroy it
Seah Chiang Nee