Singapore must continue playing a role in strengthening global institutions, former Singapore ambassador to the United Nations and a leading voice on global affairs, Prof. Kishore Mahbubani highlighted in an interview with tabla!.
“Our policy has always been to be friends with all great powers – be it the United States, China, or others. We need to continue engaging with them as equals, without taking sides.”
Reflecting on Singapore’s neutrality, he highlighted, “We don’t need to be radical. Our consistency and stability have been our strength. We need to keep building trusted partnerships like the one we have with India.”
His comments came as he was conferred the Abdeali Tayebali Lifetime Achievement Award by the Abdeali Tayebali Family Trust on Jan 28. Held at the Raffles Town Club, the event drew more than 200 guests, including community leaders, academics and business figures.
In his speech at the event, Prof. Kishore painted a picture of his life filled with ups and downs: “I started working as a textile salesman earning $150 a month. Out of the blue, the government gave me the president’s scholarship, which gave me $250 a month. My mother said, ‘$250 is more than $150. Go to university.”
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Professor Kishore emerged as one of Asia’s most prominent public intellectuals. Trained as a diplomat, he served in the Singapore Foreign Service with postings in Cambodia, Malaysia, Washington, and New York, before becoming Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
He served twice as President of the UN Security Council in 2001 and 2002 – a rare distinction for a diplomat from a small state.
Prof. Kishore added, “I am grateful for this award and for the recognition of my work.”
After leaving the foreign service, Prof Kishore turned to academia, becoming the founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, where he helped shape a new generation of policymakers.
He is also a prolific author whose books, including ‘Can Asians Think?’, ‘The New Asian Hemisphere’ and ‘Has China Won?’ have challenged Western assumptions and contributed to debates about Asia’s rising role in global affairs.
When asked about his latest work, Prof. Kishore was enthusiastic to speak of his ongoing intellectual endeavours. “I’m still writing. I published an article in the Fletcher Forum called All Civilisations Are Equal. My friends in the West rejected it. They still believe the West is superior,” he said with a cheeky smile.
Navigating an Uncertain World
As Singapore and India celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, Prof. Kishore offered an insightful analysis. “The Singapore-India relationship is mature and stable. It doesn’t depend on personalities or the current leaders. We have been building this relationship for decades, and I would say the most underleveraged area of this relationship is trade. We should have deeper economic ties, especially now that India is looking for new trade partners after the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration,” he said.
Regarding the broader state of the world marked by unpredictable global policies, Prof. Kishore noted that Singapore must be prepared for surprises.
“Despite the turbulence, global trade has actually increased, which shows that other countries don’t want to increase their tariffs and join the United States. That’s why we’ve seen spectacular developments like the free trade agreement between India and the European Union. I think both India and the European Union should thank President Trump. “
He went on to explain how the current global environment calls for resilience. “We need to focus on strengthening the resilience of the global order. Singapore should be a leader in preserving international institutions, like the World Trade Organisation. Most countries want it to survive and continue to operate,” Prof Kishore said, recognising that Singapore is trusted by many states in the world.
When asked about personal legacy, he shared: “I didn’t expect to publish ten books after leaving the foreign service. When you write a book, it’s like unleashing an arrow into the future. My books will live on after I’m gone – hopefully, younger Singaporeans understand that what we’ve achieved here is special, and it requires exceptional maintenance.”
With the lifetime achievement award, Prof Kishore joins 10 previous recipients honoured by the Trust, including Dr Kumaran Rasappan, the first Singapore Indian to scale Mount Everest and pioneering social worker and family violence specialist, Dr Sudha Nair.
Ameerali Abdeali, the son of Abdeali Tayebali, said he initially intended to limit the lifetime achievement award to 10 recipients, but believed Prof. Kishore was chosen by the divine as a recognition of his extensive contributions to society.
Presenting the award to Prof. Kishore was Viswaroopan (Viswa) Sadasivan, former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).
“Prof Kishore is one of the very few people who can walk into a room of dignitaries and say, ‘I’m going to disagree with you for your own good.’ And they like him for it. In summary, he is a likeable irritant,” Mr Viswa said.
When asked what his advice would be to an aspiring diplomat, Prof. Kishore said: “I have learned over the years that no matter what path you choose, don’t do it for money or prestige. Do what makes you happy,” he noted. “It’s about passion over practicality. If you spend your life doing what you love, you will make a living and, more importantly, you will be fulfilled.”
