People-to-people relation-new cornerstone of foreign policy

robertteh SG

Someone in another forum asked: Why is foreign minister George Yeo sending his grassroot leaders and families to Karimum.

The answer is very simple: It is probably because PAP now realized its fundamental mistakes in conducting its foreign policies with the neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia which in the past was full of arrogance and holier-than-thous attitude and legalistic approach which always incur the misunderstanding and tit-for-tat response from the neighboring people and their politicians.

The confrontational approach in foreign policy was so bad that at one time Mahathir was agitating the Malaysians against MM Lee for every utterance he was making including threatening to cut off the water supply.

With his own people he can play power and legalistic maneuvring to get his way as always but with bigger fishes he could hardly call the shot.

Look at how MM Lee had to apologise to Malaysia over remarks made about its crime-infested Johor or China's Suzhou local authority.

I have pointed out this flaw in such a foreign policies many times in my past posting in the Feedback Unit as well as even in the personal blog of Minister George Yeo's friend.

I suggested that the pillar of our foreign policy should be changed to that of people-to-people relationship instead of confrontation and challenging the neighbours.

The Russians have lost their superpower supremacy all because of one careless mistake - in throwing its weight around the Afganistan regions by engaging in field conflict which got it drawn into a long-drawn out struggles which it could not win.

If a kungfu master has the substance he will not throw a single punch or use his kungfu power or move but keep such power as deterrent with unknown hidden potential to win over allies which will give hims the total power to triumph or hold sway over potential enemies.

So I won't be surprised that Minister Yeo is now wised up to conduct foreign relations with the neighboring countries based on people-to-people friendship and cultural exchange programs hence his bringing his grassroot people to Karimun.

Of course as usual, PAP will never admit such policy errors being too proud and arrogant to receive people's suggestions just like the popularization of Polytechnics and ITEs as the core of our education system in order to promote practical mass knowledge application in every field in later years as strongly suggested by my posting since the early part of 2001.

Only now did PAP realise its past academic education system has set back the whole economy for many years and there is a need now to promote broad-based practical education which will be relevant to the economy.