Fifty Secrets Of Singapore's Success

by Tommy Koh

Singapore has evolved from a developing country to a developed one, in only a few short decades. Its gross domestic product per capita has soared from just US$517 (S$697) in 1965, to US$64,582 (S$87,128) in 2018. Impressed, visiting university students from Mexico and the United States, in early 2019, asked the city state’s Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh for its secret of success. His there was not a single secret but many, which he would consider curating a new book on. The Fifty Secrets of Singapore’s Success.The collection of 50 essays, written by leaders and experts in their fields, sheds light on how the small state has scored significant success in not only economics but also eight other areas. Among other things, Singapore is one of the world’s least corrupt countries, has one of the highest home ownership rates worldwide — of more than 90 per cent — and has world-class schools, healthcare and environments.Singapore has also been a good global citizen. It has played a significant role in the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the United Nations (UN), Singapore has played a leadership role in the negotiations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, also known as the Singapore Convention on Mediation, and the Rio Declaration on Environment and development.Tommy Koh's BioTommy Koh is Professor of Law of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Ambassador-at-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also the Special Adviser to the Institute of Policy Studies, Rector of the Tembusu College, and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for International Law at the NUS. He has served as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York, and Ambassador to the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. He was the Chief Negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, and the Agent of the Government of Singapore in two legal disputes with Malaysia. He was also President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea and Chairman of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2006, he received the Champions of the Earth Award from the UN Environment Programme and was conferred the Great Negotiator Award by Harvard University in 2014.Published by Straits Times Press.

Genres: Nonfiction

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2020

About the author

Professor Tommy Koh is currently Ambassador-At-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Special Adviser of the Institute of Policy Studies and Chairman of the Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore. He is the Chairman of the SymAsia Foundation of Credit Suisse. He is also the Rector of Tembusu College at the University Town of the National University of Singapore.

Prof Koh was the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Singapore from 1971 to 1974. He was Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York from 1968 to 1971 (concurrently accredited as High Commissioner to Canada) and again from 1974 to 1984 (concurrently accredited as High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Mexico). He was Ambassador to the United States of America from 1984 to 1990. He was President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1981 to 1982. He was Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for and the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development from 1990 to 1992. He was the founding Chairman of the National Arts Council from 1991 to 1996, Director of the Institute of Policy Studies from 1990 to February 1997 and from December 2000 to July 2004. From February 1997 to October 2000, he served as the founding Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation. He was also Singapore’s Chief Negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (2000 to 2003). He is the agent of Singapore in two legal disputes between Singapore and Malaysia. He chairs three committees for the National University of Singapore relating to law, Asia research and environmental management.

Prof Koh was appointed by the United Nations Secretary General as his Special Envoy to lead a mission to the Russian Federation, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in August/September 1993. Prof Koh was a member of three WTO dispute panels, two of which as Chairman.

Prof Koh received a First Class Honours degree in Law from the National University of Singapore, has a Masters degree in Law from Harvard University and a post-graduate Diploma in Criminology from Cambridge University. He was conferred a full professorship in 1977. In 1984, Prof Koh was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by Yale University. He has also received awards from Columbia University, Stanford University, Georgetown University, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Curtin University. On 22 September 2002, Prof Koh was conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by Monash University. He has taught at various universities in the United States and China.

For his service to the nation, Prof Koh was awarded the Public Service Star in 1971, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979, the Distinguished Service Order Award in 1990, and the Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in 2008. Prof Koh was appointed Commander in the Order of the Golden Ark by HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in March 1993. He received the award of the Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins from the Government of Chile on 3 April 1997. He also received the 1996 Elizabeth Haub Prize from the University of Brussels and the International Council on Environmental Law on 17 April 1997. Prof Koh was awarded the 1998 Fok Ying Tung Southeast Asia Prize by the Fok Ying Tung Foundation in Hong Kong on 29 May 1998. On 22 February 2000 he was awarded the “Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland” by the President of Finland. On 2 May 2000, he was conferred the title of “Grand Officer in the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg. On 6 August 2001, he was conferred the rank of Officer in the Order of the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic. He was presented with the Peace and Commerce Award by the US Secretary of Commerce, Donald Evans, in Washington DC, on 5 May 2003. His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain has bestowed upon Prof Koh the Encomienda of Isabel la Ca

Reviews

[3thn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wide ranging selection of success stories, wished they could go more in depth

[Hamed Al-Hamdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said: “One sign of an educated society is the number of books read by the people. We have had universal primary education for over a decade. Today we have a literate society. But a literate society is not necessarily an educated society. One test of an educated man is his ability to continue reading and learning throughout his life.””

[Nicholas Why · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have always wanted to know the reasons why Singapore is such a success despite its size, this book is a good place to start. 50 succinct short articles written by 50 field experts help shed light on our little red dot.

[Amanda Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read if you want a crash-course in public policy—but most of all, it's a wide-ranging sweep of many policies, showing the rationale behind what may be considered by some controversial policies. It doesn't make the policies any more perfect, but it makes it more human. Also wish it could've gone more in depth, but I really liked it nonetheless :)

[Lê Hà Phương · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know more about Singapore, this is the most suitable book. The basic components that created this island nation are all in this book.

[Fern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing read. More rah rah self congratulatory essays than insightful dissections of policies.

[rui · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book could have dived deeper into the topics explored

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summary of what has made Singapore successful in a short time period. Singapore takes an honest, pragmatic look at its own strengths, weaknesses, and capitalizes on its opportunities through strong public policy. Lots of important lessons for both developing and developed countries, including methods of creating social harmony, balancing economic growth with sustainability, and always looking out for future generations.

[Sathappan Sathappan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very high level essays penned by multiple leaders in various organisations in Singapore. Some interesting and insightful essays. Some so-so. There are few commonalities across these essays. Wish the book had picked those commonality and delved deeper instead of the high level essays

[Bobbin G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical read.