Transcript of SM Jayakumar's doorstop interview with Singapore media at the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, 8 May 2011

SM: As for the ASEAN Leaders retreat, I think we had a very good meeting. There are many issues which preoccupied the Leaders. The most pressing one was the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. This morning, we were very encouraged that both Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Abhisit reported that, due to the good offices of the President of Indonesia, they had a series of good meetings and seemed optimistic that having held these meetings here in ASEAN, they will be able to come to some workable arrangements. Of course, that doesn't mean the dispute has been settled. But what is important is that this ASEAN meeting has enabled the two leaders to meet without the glare of the publicity and the spotlight being on them. It also shows that the ASEAN Chair - Indonesian President Yudhoyono - has exercised leadership in making available his good offices. Singapore, as well as other countries, has urged both parties to exercise restraint. Both of them, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Abhisit, recognised that it is a bilateral dispute but also that the resolution of the dispute and the way it is resolved has wider implications for ASEAN and the peaceful settlement of disputes. So we are hopeful and optimistic of both the process as well as the way in which both countries have been tackling this problem and we urged the President of Indonesia to continue his good offices role in this regard.

The second issue is that of the regional architecture, particularly of the East Asia Summit. Everyone welcomed the admission of Russia and United States. We think it is a plus factor for the evolution of the regional architecture. It will enable a good advance in functional cooperation, especially in the five priority areas but also for the connectivity issues and for the CEPEA - Closer Economic Partnership for East Asia. We felt that the regional architecture is not a single delineated architecture - we have got to have many forums and each forum has a role to play. There were also discussions on the need for ASEAN to have a coordinated approach to tackling the issues of safety and security in the development of civilian nuclear energy. I think that is a good move, and there is a discussion and agreement that ASEAN should observe the highest standards in this regard.

As for Timor Leste's application to join ASEAN, no decision was taken because the consensus was to task the ACC - which comprises the Foreign Ministers - to look into this matter. And Singapore's view is that any decision on application - whether it is Timor Leste or anybody else - is that there are two parts. One is Timor Leste's capacity and ability to fulfil the various obligations of membership and, on the other hand, ASEAN also needs to discuss what are the implications for ASEAN in taking on a new member at this time when ASEAN has so many challenges, chief of which is to achieve the community by 2015. I think those are the major issues which took up ASEAN's retreat.

CNA: Prof, was the request by Myanmar to host or chair the ASEAN by 2014 discussed?

SM: Yes, it was discussed in the sense that both Laos and Myanmar reported that they have been discussing the possibility of having a swap and Myanmar taking over the chairmanship in 2014. Different views were expressed but I think it is fair to say that the Chairman announced that we all would have to be better informed of this. As for the other countries, they took note of the positive and progressive developments in Myanmar. But I think we have to leave it to the Chairman to announce what the decision is. But generally, I think there is some expectation that the Chair will look further into this and be more informed of the readiness of Myanmar to take over the Chairmanship.

ST: Would you talk about the Singapore Election?

SM: First, let me say what were the reactions of the Leaders and the Ministers, some of whom I'm told stayed up also till about 4am to watch the results.

The first point I want to make is that nearly everyone I spoke to, the Ministers and Leaders, were saddened, disappointed and surprised to know that Foreign Minister George Yeo has lost. Why were they saddened? Because to them George Yeo has been a very articulate and able spokesman for Singapore, and not only that, they consider him as one of the most ardent advocates for the cause of ASEAN ... a highly articulate champion of ASEAN representing ASEAN to the rest of the world. He has in fact been one of the drivers of ASEAN's role, whether its centrality or on integration. In fact, he was one of the prime movers of the ASEAN Charter exercise and he persuaded me to be a member of the Eminent Persons Group which proposed the elements of the Charter. So, they of course will miss him, and they asked me to convey their
best wishes to him.

You asked me for my take on the elections? I think that there will be many analyses and reflections by various parties at home. I am grateful to the Prime Minister that, although he had so many pressing matters on his mind, he discussed with me on the phone last night to fill me in on what was happening. He knew of course that I may be asked about it by the media and foreign ministers.

But you see, you can look at it from different perspectives and with a different lens. Although the foreign ministers and leaders expressed their sadness to see George Yeo leave, on the other hand, they thought it was a big win. Some of them quipped that, look, 81 out of 87 seats, 60% of the popular vote? Prime Minister's margin increased to 69% in his own ward? PAP got back the constituency that had been occupied by the opposition for some time? They thought it was a big win and quipped that they would like to have that kind of a win in their countries! So, different people can see it in different lenses. Of course, if we look at it from the lens of a party, partisan role, you will be disappointed because of the previous trends.

My own take is that it is a major step in the evolution of our parliamentary and political system. Nothing is static. Things will change and with every change we need to ensure that it is for the positive and not negative. Take for example, all the criticisms that have been made about us and our system that it stifles the opposition, that the GRCs perpetuate the ruling party. Well, it has been proven wrong, because the system works.

A final point I want to make is that I cannot but see the bigger picture. Once you are in a meeting like this in ASEAN and you see the preoccupations of everyone about the major political, economic and security challenges which are affecting the world and the region, I cannot but take the view that, at the end of the day, to meet these challenges Singapore has to be strong and united. So, I support what PM said, that after the dust has settled, after the sound and fury of the elections have died down, it is important that Singaporeans, whatever their views were on party elections, on the parliamentary elections, that we come and pull together as one people.

There are many, many uncertainties which are facing the region. We are a very small player and so we are more vulnerable than anybody else, and the only way we can chart the unknown terrain and whatever uncertainties that lurk ahead is to be united and strong. That's my hope and that is how I see the situation.

ST: I want to know what is George Yeo's likely role you think in your opinion as well as who you think is likely to fill his shoes?

SM: For that you have to ask the Prime Minister - who is going to fill his shoes - but you know George is one of the colleagues that I have great admiration for. He has many talents and abilities, and I would not want to come across as writing an obituary of the demise of his talents and of his role. I am sure that whatever role that he accepts and whatever task he does, he will do it with great effectiveness but you got to ask him and you ask the Prime Minister.

ST: Other than PM calling you, how else were you kept in touch?

SM: I kept in touch with many friends to find out ... you know, you are here and you are away from the action, naturally you want to know what is going on ...

ST: Through SMSes?

SM: SMSes. Yes ... largely SMSes.

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