Bilateral relations, which I take more generally as international relations, affect Singapore’s politics. The most important foreign policy decision we have ever taken was to join Malaysia. It was also the most serious foreign policy miscalculation we have ever made. And in that apparent paradox lies the genesis of independent Singapore’s politics. Speaking in the Singapore Legislative Assembly on 5 March 1957, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, “In the context of the second half of the 20th century, of 20th century Southeast Asia, island nations are a political joke.” A political joke. Now, Mr Lee made that statement during a debate on what position to take during the constitutional talks to be held in London. It reflected his conviction, and the conviction of his comrades, that merger with Malaya was the only practical way forward if Singapore were to completely shake off colonial rule.

I would like to thank IPS for this opportunity be alongside stellar allies in the space of social advocacy. To be selected from a huge pool of existing thought leaders on different causes and representations is indeed an honour. Most of my work is geographically specific to two neighbourhoods, Geylang and Dakota Crescent. Geylang being the place I grew up and Dakota Crescent an adjacent neighbourhood where my grandma had lived. These are the two locations where I have spent most of my life and where I draw reference from.

I've named the talk today, "Lorongs of Wisdom", in light of my journey to advocacy and the attribution of the close association of identity with the stereotypes of the neighbourhood I was born in.