<< How Mr Goh managed to get President Bill Clinton to agree to a US-Singapore free trade agreement (FTA), a landmark breakthrough at the time. >> By Han Fook Kwang
US officials were not keen on the idea and had blocked it from reaching the White House.
Mr Goh knew he had to get close and personal with President Clinton and the opportunity came at the Apec meeting in Brunei in 2000. At the end of dinner as the leaders were leaving the banquet room, Mr Goh made his move and told the President that he was planning to play a round of golf after the dinner.
President Clinton replied: "I was thinking of looking for someone to play with. Let's play."
But the plan was almost scuttled when moments later, a loud thunderclap shook the place and heavy rain poured down.
A US security officer turned to Mr Goh and told him that it did not look like game-on.
This is how the author recounted what happened next in the book (Standing Tall):
"Without missing a beat, Goh replied very assertively: "No, it is on. I know my weather. This is a tropical storm. It will pass within half an hour. The golf course is half an hour from this place. So, by the time we arrive, the rain would have stopped."
To be safe, he raised the odds. He told the US Secret Service officer: "Anyway, I'm going. But the President does not have to go if he thinks the weather is bad."
The one-upmanship paid off.
"If I'm going, how could he not go?" said Goh with a grin.
The rest, as they say, is history. The two played golf that night and after the game, over drinks, the Singapore Prime Minister made his FTA pitch which his golfing partner promptly agreed to, and the breakthrough was achieved.
A leader needs to be able to think and act on his feet and to seize opportunities when they present themselves.
Officials can do detailed ground work, but without political leaders to act decisively at the right moment, the best-laid plans may come to nought.
No comments:
Post a Comment