Speech by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Maliki Osman During the Committee of Supply Debate, 2 March 2020

1 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Vivian spoke on Singapore’s relations with our immediate neighbours and the major powers. I would like to elaborate on our efforts to foster closer relations in the region. These efforts will help Singapore make friends, gain support at international fora and enable our companies to pursue economic opportunities abroad. They also enable us to work closely with our partners to address non-traditional threats, in order to keep Singapore safe and secure. 

Cooperation within ASEAN

2 Let me first start by addressing ASEAN and its strategic importance to Singapore, which Mr Charles Chong, Mr Henry Kwek and Dr Teo Ho Pin had addressed in their speeches. ASEAN continues to be a cornerstone of Singapore’s foreign policy. It allows us to foster regional peace and security, so that we can pursue our strategic, economic and socio-cultural priorities.

3 Despite its diversity and member states’ different stages of development, ASEAN’s continued stability makes it an attractive platform for major powers to engage our region. This amplifies ASEAN’s collective voice on the international stage. 

4 Mr Henry Kwek asked about the progress of negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea or the COC. We completed the first reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text for the COC last year and have started on the second reading. Our key concern remains the right to freedom of navigation and overflight as enshrined under UNCLOS. ASEAN’s security platforms like the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting have also facilitated an effective and sustainable security architecture in the region.

5 ASEAN also serves as a channel to coordinate collective responses to regional crises. For example, through ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, we are able to alleviate the situation in the Rakhine State. To reply to Mr Louis Ng’s query, Singapore has contributed over S$1 million in bilateral humanitarian aid to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Through ASEAN, we support efforts to create conducive conditions for repatriation. For instance, the ASEAN Secretariat’s Ad Hoc Support Team is building infrastructure and providing equipment for reception and transit centres in the Rakhine State. We will be ready to support future comprehensive needs assessments once repatriation commences. In the meantime, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered provisional measures in the case brought by Gambia against Myanmar. As a strong proponent of international law, we hope that all parties will respect the ICJ’s decision.

6 ASEAN convened a Special ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting back-to-back with a Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting two weeks ago in Laos to look into ASEAN’s collective response to COVID-19, and discuss how we can strengthen cooperation with China to address the outbreak effectively. Preparations are also underway for a video conference meeting between ASEAN and the EU to exchange information and best practices on COVID-19.

7 ASEAN’s success in maintaining peace and security has given investors confidence to put money in the region and in Singapore. In 2018, total foreign direct investment inflows into ASEAN amounted to some US$155 billion. This is up from US$42 billion in 2005. Intra-ASEAN trade remains strong, and has benefitted Singapore. In 2018, Singapore was the largest exporter and importer of the region, accounting for 28.8 per cent and 26.8 per cent of ASEAN exports and imports, respectively. We also accounted for the largest share, 47.1 per cent, of total trade in services. This has allowed us to position ourselves as a regional trading hub. ASEAN has also increased efforts to promote tourism in the region, such as through the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan and the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum. Visitor arrivals to ASEAN have increased markedly, reaching 135 million in 2018, an estimated 264% increase from 2005, and Singapore is consistently among the top ASEAN countries with highest visitor arrivals.

8 Going forward, we should continue to tap on ASEAN’s potential as a burgeoning consumer market. By 2030, ASEAN is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world. We should therefore continue to promote regional integration and deepen intra-ASEAN trade. One important component towards this goal is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP, which we look forward to signing at the earliest opportunity. Singapore, as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations, is also leading efforts to advance an ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement and to restart ASEAN-EU FTA negotiations.

Singapore’s Relations with Neighbouring Countries

9 Closer to home, it remains crucial that we continue to foster closer bilateral relations with our Southeast Asian neighbours. Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Mr Seah Kian Peng asked for updates on our relations with Malaysia and Indonesia. I would like to take these two questions together in Malay.

10 Hubungan jiran-jiran kami adalah kuat dan terus berkembang dengan mantap. Kami berkongsi kebergantungan yang meluas dengan kedua-dua jiran kami. Dalam hal ini, Singapura amat berharap kedua-dua jiran kami terus berjaya kerana Indonesia dan Malaysia yang berjaya adalah baik bagi Singapura dan rantau ini.

[English translation: Our neighbours’ relations are strong and continue to expand steadily. We share extensive interdependencies with our two neighbours. In this regard, it is in Singapore’s interest that our neighbours succeed, as a successful Indonesia and Malaysia is good for Singapore and the region.]

11 Adalah perkara biasa untuk isu-isu timbul dari masa ke semasa dengan jiran-jiran terdekat kami. Yang penting ialah bagaimana kami menyelesaikan perbezaan antara kami berkaitan isu-isu ini. Hanya dengan mengekalkan hubungan dua hala yang baik keseluruhannya dan bekerjasama dalam bidang berkepentingan bersama atas dasar saling menang atau (win-win) dan saling menghormati, akan dapat kami membangunkan keselesaan dan meningkatkan kepercayaan untuk membincangkan isu-isu lebih rumit secara membina.

[English translation: It is normal for issues to crop up from time to time with our closest neighbours. How we go about resolving our differences is key. It is only by maintaining good overall bilateral relations and cooperating in areas of common interest on a win-win basis, and with mutual respect, will we be able to develop comfort and trust to discuss more complicated issues in a constructive manner.]

12 Oleh kerana itu kami telah mengekalkan hubungan peribadi yang rapat, dengan pertukaran lawatan di peringkat tertinggi. Pada tahun 2019 sahaja, terdapat lebih daripada 50 lawatan dan pertukaran di peringkat Menteri antara Malaysia dan Singapura. Pertukaran-pertukaran ini telah membolehkan kami membincangkan pelbagai isu termasuk projek-projek penyambungan seperti Sistem Transit Laju Singapura-Johor Bahru dan Projek Kereta Api Laju Singapura-Kuala Lumpur. Saya berharap kami akan dapat meneruskan kemajuan ke atas projek-projek yang saling menguntungkan ini.

[English translation: Because of this, we have kept up close personal ties, with exchanges in visits at the highest levels. In 2019 alone, there were over 50 Ministerial-level visits and exchanges between Malaysia and Singapore. These exchanges allowed us to discuss a wide range of issues, including connectivity projects like the Singapore-Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System Link and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail. I hope that we will be able to continue making progress on these mutually beneficial projects.]

13 Kami juga harus bekerjasama rapat dengan Malaysia menerusi beberapa wadah dua hala mengenai isu-isu lain seperti pembatasan sempadan maritim, persekitaran, kerjasama ekonomi dan kesihatan awam. Kuncinya ialah untuk mencari cara bagi mengekalkan hubungan unggul dan bersejarah kami untuk diteruskan generasi masa depan. Dalam hal ini, saya percaya terdapat banyak peluang bagi pertukaran dan penglibatan yang lebih hebat di kalangan generasi muda kita. Ini akan menguatkan lagi hubungan erat antara rakyat yang kita nikmati hari ini.

[English translation: We should also continue to work closely with Malaysia through several bilateral platforms on other issues such as maritime boundary delimitation, the environment, economic cooperation and public health. The key is to find ways to sustain our historically excellent ties for future generations. In this regard, I believe that there are many opportunities for greater engagement and exchanges among our younger generation. This will strengthen the excellent people-to-people ties we already share.]

14 Encik Chia Shi-Lu telah bertanya langkah yang akan kami ambil bagi memperluaskan penglibatan kami, termasuk membina hubungan di peringkat negeri di Malaysia. Melebihi hubungan dengan Persekutuan, kami ingin memperkukuhkan hubungan kami dengan negeri-negeri di Semenanjung dan Sabah dan Sarawak. Pada 2019, Menteri Vivian telah mengunjungi Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, dan Terengganu. Sepanjang tahun lalu, kami juga telah menerima kunjungan peringkat-tinggi dari pemimpin-pemimpin dan pegawai-pegawai di peringkat negeri yang berminat untuk melibatkan diri dengan agensi-agensi kami, lebih-lebih lagi agensi ekonomi kami. Lawatan-lawatan ini menyediakan peluang untuk memperdalamkan kerjasama dan membina hubungan ekonomi yang lebih rapat.

[English translation: Mr Chia Shi-Lu asked what steps we were taking to expand our engagement, including building ties with various Malaysian states. Beyond our relations with the Federal (government), we want to strengthen our relationship with the various states in Peninsula Malaysia, and with Sabah and Sarawak. In 2019, Minister Balakrishnan visited Johor, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Terengganu. Over the past year, we had also received a large number of high-level incoming visits from state leaders and officials who are keen to engage our agencies, and more so, our economic agencies. These visits provide opportunities to deepen cooperation and build closer economic ties.]

15 Menteri Vivian juga telah berucap tentang hubungan erat kami dengan Indonesia yang merangkumi berbagai sudut. Izinkan sayamengulas lanjut. Kerjasama ekonomi kami terus berkembang luas melalui projek-projek kerjasama perdana termasuk projek Taman Perindustrian Kendal di Jawa Tengah dan projek Taman Digital Nongsa di Batam. Kami merupakan pelabur asing tertinggi Indonesia sejak 2014. Kedua-dua negara merupakan rakan perdagangan masing-masing yang terbesar. Perjanjian Pengelakan Cukai Berganda yang telah dikemaskini dan ditandatangani ketika Lawatan Negara Presiden Halimah ke Indonesia pada Februari tahun ini, bersama dengan Perjanjian Pelaburan Dua Hala, akan mempertingkatkan pelaburan dan perdagangan dua-hala, setelah, perjanjian disahkan. Projek dan perjanjian sebegini memudahkan penciptaan peluang perniagaan dan pekerjaan bagi kedua-dua pihak. Masih terdapat ruang luas bagi kami untuk melakukan lebih banyak lagi bersama. Sebagai contoh, perbincangan sedang dijalankan mengenai cara untuk mengembangkan kerjasama dalam bidang pelaburan, pembangunan sumber manusia, prasarana, pelancongan dan ekonomi digital. 

[English translation: Minister Vivian had also spoken about our multi-faceted relations with Indonesia. Allow me to elaborate. Our economic cooperation continues to grow from strength to strength through flagship collaborative projects, including the Kendal Industrial Park project in Central Java and Nongsa Digital Park project in Batam. We have been Indonesia’s top foreign investor since 2014. Both countries are among each other’s largest trading partners. The updated Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, which was signed during President Halimah’s State Visit to Indonesia in February, along with our Bilateral Investment Treaty, will further increase two-way trade and investments, once the agreements are ratified. Such projects and agreements facilitate the creation of jobs and business opportunities on both sides. There is still room for us to do so much more together. For example, discussions are ongoing on ways to expand cooperation in investments, human resource development, infrastructure, tourism and the digital economy.]

16 Melebihi hubungan rapat kami dengan pemerintah pusat di Jakarta, kami juga melakukan kunjungan tertinggi secara tetap di provinsi Indonesia, dan lebih mengukuhkan hubungan yang lebih baik dengan pemimpin-pemimpin tempatan. Presiden Halimah telah mengadakan kunjungan yang berhasil  di Jogjakarta semasa Lawatan Negara pada awal Februari tahun ini. Baru-baru ini, saya telah mengunjungi Riau dan Jambi di mana saya telah bertemu dengan ramai pemimpin tempatan termasuk Gabenor Riau Syamsuar dan Wali Kota Jambi Syarif Fasha. Kami akan terus memperluaskan penglibatan kami dengan provinsi-provinsi Indonesia, untuk membuka peluang perniagaan sambil memperdalamkan dan mengembangkan hubungan antara rakyat di peringkat provinsi juga.

[English translation: Beyond our close links with the central government, we also have regular high (level) visits to Indonesian provinces, and established closer ties with local leaders. President Halimah had a fruitful visit to Yogyakarta during her State Visit in early February. I visited Riau and Jambi last month, where I met various leaders, including the Riau Governor Syamsuar and the Jambi City Mayor Syarif Fasha. We will continue to engage Indonesia’s regions widely, to open up opportunities for our businesses while deepening and broadening our people-to-people ties.]

17 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how we can deepen our relationship with ASEAN countries. Apart from Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore continues to closely engage and pursue collaborative relations with the wider Southeast Asian region. We have substantive and growing economic, defence and people-to-people ties with many of them. We are exploring cooperation in many new areas. For instance, during President Halimah’s State Visit to the Philippines in September last year, Singapore and the Philippines concluded eight MOUs that chart cooperation in emerging areas like data protection, data innovation and smart city infrastructure. With Thailand, we have been exploring fintech cooperation, like linking PayNow in Singapore with PromptPay in Thailand. This means that people in Singapore and Thailand can send money to each other instantly using their mobile phone numbers. We have strong economic links with Vietnam too. Our seven Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks are doing well. Both sides are also strengthening cooperation in finance, digital technology and innovation, smart cities and energy. Our agencies like Infrastructure Asia are working closely across the region to support sustainable infrastructure development and share best practices in areas like smart cities, urban mobility and water supply and sanitation. We are confident that cooperation in these areas will promote economic growth, social development, and longer-term sustainability in our region.

18 I am glad Mr Gan also mentioned increasing our youths’ exposure in ASEAN. With 60 per cent of ASEAN’s population below the age of 35, I agree that focus should be placed on strengthening linkages amongst our youth. The Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund (SAYF) was set up in 2007 to promote greater interaction among ASEAN youth and increase understanding of ASEAN culture. Singapore added S$5 million to the SAYF during the 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship to promote leadership development, community service and entrepreneurship amongst ASEAN youth.

Non-Traditional Threats

19 Our engagement of regional partners also serves as an avenue of cooperation to tackle transboundary threats like cybersecurity, climate change, and terrorism.

20 Cybersecurity is a growing concern, particularly for Singapore, which has one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. Mr Murali Pillai asked how we could work with the international community to safeguard Singapore’s cybersecurity. MFA works with the CSA – the Cybersecurity Agency – and international partners to exchange information and promote best practices through active participation in platforms like the United Nations Group of Government Experts on cybersecurity issues, and the United Nations Open Ended Working Group on Cybersecurity. We have also launched the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in October 2019, which offers capacity building programmes for participants.

21 Climate change is also of serious concern. According to UN Environment, global temperatures could rise another 3.9 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, with catastrophic results. Although Singapore only contributes to 0.1 per cent of global emissions, we will continue to actively address climate change as a responsible member of the global community. Mr Amrin Amin asked how we are fulfilling our Paris Agreement commitments. We will enhance our Nationally Determined Contribution and submit a long-term low emissions development strategy for 2050. As highlighted by SM Teo earlier, achieving these goals requires deep transformations in our industry, economy and society. We are heartened that there is a growing awareness of climate change among Singaporeans, especially our young. We look forward to working with the private sector and key stakeholders to achieve our climate goals.

22 The terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, New Zealand and the UK last year, as well as the recent attack in Germany, are grim reminders of what is a clear and present danger. In this regard, Mr Liang Eng Hwa raised a pertinent question on how Singapore secured itself from the threat of terrorism. It is important that we remain vigilant and continue to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation with our neighbours. Within Southeast Asia, there is robust defence and security cooperation through joint exercises, such as the Sulu-Sulawesi Straits Patrol and the Malacca Straits Patrol.  We also make use of relevant platforms such as ASEAN’s Our Eyes Initiative for defence officials to exchange strategic information on terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism.

Situation in the Middle East

23 Let me now move on to the situation in the Middle East. Though further away, our citizens visit the Middle East often, not only for work and education but to perform religious practices like umrah and hajj as well. Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the situation and our key engagements there. The Middle East is an important global supplier of fossil fuels, and many key shipping routes pass through the region. Any instability in the region will affect Singapore. We have thus been closely monitoring developments, which remain volatile. The dispute between Qatar and its four neighbours, for instance, has persisted over two years. Singapore has good relations with all the parties involved and we hope that a resolution can be reached soon.

24 Given our position as a major maritime and oil hub, our economic growth could also potentially be impacted if maritime routes are disrupted. The incidents involving Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in January were therefore of particular concern given the risk of miscalculations, which could further spiral into conflict and affect regional stability. We hope that all sides will take steps to de-escalate tensions. No one will gain from a military conflict in the Gulf.

25 With regard to the complex and longstanding conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Singapore has taken a consistent and principled position. We support a negotiated two-state solution consistent with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and we welcome all efforts by the international community towards this end. The US recently released President Trump’s vision for a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. However, this was rejected by the Palestinian side. We hope that both sides will return to direct negotiations towards a just and durable solution, and refrain from any unilateral action.

26 While we watch the situation in the Middle East, we have not been deterred from expanding our political and economic space. We have kept up regular interactions with the Middle East at all levels. In February last year, we hosted an official visit by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and signed a joint declaration on comprehensive partnership. This represented a high-water mark in our relations with the United Arab Emirates, which remains our largest trading partner in the Middle East. President Halimah Yacob also made a historic State Visit to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in November 2019. Looking ahead, Prime Minister Lee is scheduled to visit the region to attend the G20 Summit later this year. These political exchanges lay the groundwork for fostering stronger economic ties with the region. Our efforts are strengthened by the fact that Singapore is well-regarded in the Middle East as a development model. Our companies enjoy good brand recognition. They should continue to explore opportunities in the region. On the temporary suspension of umrah visas by the Saudi Government as a precautionary measure in view of the Covid-19 outbreak, Singapore hopes that the suspension will be lifted in due course so that Singaporeans can proceed with their umrah in a safe and secure manner.   

Conclusion

27 Mr. Chairman, I conclude by reiterating that we should continue to deepen ties with our closest partners for the peace and prosperity of Singapore and the region. We should intensify regional and international cooperation. By doing so, we will be better-equipped to secure Singapore’s strategic interests in an increasingly uncertain global climate.

28 Mr. Chairman, I now turn the floor to my colleague, MOS Sam Tan.

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