Foreign judges will sit in Singapore International Commercial Court

‘For what good is it if we gain the whole world of international commercial litigation, but forfeit forever the possibility of an autochthonous legal system.’ I quote senior consultant Sim Yong Chan for RHTLaw Taylor Wessing. He was arguing his case against allowing foreigners to sit in the SICC located here as part of our legal system.

May I add, ‘For what good is it if we gain the whole world by being the smartest city of foreign talents, and average Sinkies ended up as cleaners and taxi drivers and living in Batam, Bintan and JB?’ This is something the hotel managers of this city that do not have high regards for its citizens must think very carefully. And this is one thing that this silly city state with silly heads can learn from Malaysia and the countries all over the world. A country is not a hotel!

What is the point of setting up SICC here if it does not benefit the citizens of the island? Oh, we gain a lot of recognition as a venue for international litigation. So? The only people that may benefit will be the property developers or owners selling or renting a few properties and maybe the hotels and restaurants with a few more clients. What is so good about it if the legal fraternity and profession did not reap real benefits like jobs and professionalism?

Or, I may quote Sim Yong Chan once more, the presence of foreign judges ‘could threaten the development of a homegrown legal system, something towards which Singapore should be working…’ Or shall I quote someone else by saying, you want the best Singaporean lawyers and judges, just bring the best from the world and issue them with pink ICs as instant citizens. Or shall I quote Judge of Appeal Andrew Phang, ‘voluntarily embrac(ing) the fetters of our colonial heritage’.

The thought of having foreigners presiding in our courts is anathema to our integrity as an independent nation. Sad to say, many jokers think losing our independence is ok, giving our country to foreigners is ok. If foreigners are talented, nevermind if they are fakes or from unrecognized pariah universities where the grades are suspect, it is ok to let them replace our citizens.

What is the point of having international courts here if they are to be run by foreigners with Singapore as a minor partner and Singaporeans as clerks and messenger boys?

Kopi Level - Blue, thank you.