The power of Asia converging

(Speech delivered before new Asian leaders at the World Economic Forum on Oct. 11 in Singapore)

I am privileged to have been given this occasion to share my views with the new Asian leaders of the World Economic Forum.

The matter was of special interest to me because I certainly identify with most of you, ever in search of meaning in the quite confusing world that we live in.

Thus the question what would most likely be my opening shot tonight?

I was reminded of an article in the Forbes Global magazine that I read a few months ago where Dr. PauL Johnson, an eminent British historian and author, wrote that "two millennia ago, distinctions between rich and poor were painfully visible. The rich were plump and well clad, warm and clean scented and groomed."

"The poor were thin, in rags, filthy and stinking. For the first time in history, plumpness and obesity are signs of poverty. The rich are lean, dieting on salads and often refusing to eat meat."

"Once you are well-fed, clothed and housed," Dr. Johnson adds, "you have to spend your money on competitive ostentation – or save it, and either choice brings problems and worries."

The British guru shares with us his perception on how becoming rich has become a burden and how wealth does not necessary spell happiness. He was of course writing from the Northern perspective of a changing social landscape, for we do submit that the distinction between rich and poor in the South are still very much painfully visible today.

In developing countries, the rich are plump and well clad, while the poor are still thin and poorly clothed.

The Cancun Experience

Last month, I attended the 5th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cancun, Mexico where I witnessed how 22 countries banded together and established a synergy that rocked the halls of the WTO in Cancun because eventually 2/3 of the WTO minister-delegates became loud and united in demanding that before any other issue is taken up, the matter of agricultural reform must first be resolved.

China, the Philippines, Thailand, India and Pakistan were part of G-22.

In the world of trade, most developing countries should have an advantage in agriculture because their production, land and labor costs are low.

But farming is now the most protected sector of the economies of the world’s richest countries. In addition to farm subsidies, which the World Bank estimates at $300 billion, the United States, Europe and other first world countries maintain high tariffs blocking imports into their economies, and spend hundreds of billions of dollars subsidizing their food exports.

This has resulted in the dumping of the produce of developed countries into the economies of the developing world at prices below the latter’s cost thus undermining the ability of the world’s poor farmers to sell their products for consumption at home or as exports abroad.

WTO Cancun, however, fell flat on its face when another group, this time called G-9, hardballed their proposed investment rules otherwise known as Singapore issues. Notably, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea were part of this proposal. As a result, the Ministerial had to be adjourned so the discussions never got to the next agenda that were the agricultural issues.

But while no revisions have yet been reached for the agricultural reforms, it became nevertheless the historic turning point of WTO’s imperial reflexes to a democratic venue where the opportunity to bring social demands from the streets onto the conference among the world’s highest officials has happened, not through noisy and violent demonstrations but in the representation of their respective ministers.

The Greatest Malay

Eight years ago, the Institute for Policy Research of Malaysia, hosted a two-day international discourse and exhibition in honor of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal was the first person in all of Asia to advocate and introduce ideas which can be called modern democracy and Western liberalism.

As early as the 1880s, years before Gandhi or Sun Yat Sen began their fight for freedom, Jose Rizal through his essays, letters and novels was already espousing such principles as the worth and dignity of the individual, the inviolability of human rights, the innate equality of all men and races, the necessity for constitutional government and due process of law, popular sovereignty as the basis of all political authority, faith in human reason and enlightenment, the right of the masses to public education and belief in social progress through freedom.

The first champion of racial equality in Asia, Rizal expressed that there was no difference in innate mentality and capacity between westerners and Asians – that cultural and environmental rather than biological or racial factors played a part in determining the degree and scope of social development.

He declared that a free and democratic society must be founded upon the education of the people.

Today, more than a hundred years after his death, Rizal is recognized not only as a great Filipino but more so a great citizen of Asia – an inspiration wherever people cherish freedom, social justice and emancipation in all its forms.

As the quintessential hommes universalis, bridging both the East and the West, and the North and the South, Jose Rizal walked the talk.

In exile at Dapitan in the island of Mindanao in 1892, he became the first community extension worker by opening a school, providing medical services and better nutrition through new and improved farming methods for the people. Rizal also built a potable water system and an ecological center. All these exist to this date.

And most importantly, Rizal introduced the use of fishnets to augment the fisherfolk’s catch and income.

Real-Life Models

Asia, as we know, is capable of harnessing its vast resources to create an industrial powerhouse and tiger economies.

All we need is a level competitive playing field so our thin ruggedly clothed masses can become more vibrantly healthy.

Combining our populations, Asia (China, India and East Asia, ASEAN) easily compose a formidable market of close to three billion people, or more than half the population of the world.

But media chooses to ignore that fact and is focused on playing catch up with the West, negative rather positive feedback for its populations.

As we have seen in the example of Rizal, we are not devoid of inspiration for great leaders and higher aspirations.

Gandhi dismantled the British empire’s hold in Asia, beginning with India.

Sun Yat Sen, with his ideals, broke the back of Chinese warlordism. Mao Zhe Dong, Chou En Lai, and Deng Xiao Peng ushered through history the seemingly impossible transformation of China to the great market economy it has now become.

Tungku Abdul Rahman and his successors notably Dr. Mahatir Mohammad converted Malaysia from a rural to an export-led economy. And across the straits, Sukarno united Indonesians and Suharto introduced innovation in rural development through the pesantren movement.

And ladies and gentlemen, here in Singapore, who can overlook the magic of Lee Kuan Yew?

Throughout Asia, in the true expression of our Oriental ethos, we have learned through their leadership that "all growth begins at the grassroots."

We know that no progress or prosperity is sustainable unless the majority of our peoples share in its attainment.

Thus within WTO and without we should be conscious of our bountiful Asian heritage and dignity, and love for the small people.

So we do agree with Dr. Johnson wholeheartedly, as we hope we can all agree here today, with his great conclusion.

"The need for men (and if I may add nations) to become rich is one of the deepest, most important and valuable of human impulses. It is a driving force behind inventions and technology, innovation and experiment, the market and the entire capitalist system. (But) in the long run, a rational cupidity is the friend of the poor, the enemy of disease and human misery, the paymaster of culture and learning, and the father of virtues."