Singaporeans split over bearing costs for Trump-Kim summit
In this June 7, 2018, photo, a man walks past an advertisement board of cartoon caricatures of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which are supposed to be the inspiration behind a local dish, the "Trump-Kim Chi Nasi Lemak" at a mall, in Singapore. AP
By Kim Jae-kyoung
SINGAPORE ― Most Singaporeans are excited about their country playing host to the historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
But not all are happy about the city-state bearing the cost of the summit slated to be held at the Capella Hotel on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa, June 12.
Proponents believe that this is a great chance for Singapore to upgrade its international image, so the government and people are taking a strategic approach.
In other words, paying the direct costs for North Korea, such as lodging, transport and dining, can be a monetary loss in the short-term, but successful hosting the summit will bring greater value for the country.
“This kind of opportunity does not come often. I think we can afford to bear the cost and it will help leverage our international status,” said a senior executive at one of the five-star hotels in Singapore on condition of anonymity.
“Singapore is a very small country and we need to take advantage of this opportunity to solidify our position as a neutral, trusted country,” he added.
Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen recently said that the city-state is willing to foot some bills for the planned summit.
When asked if Singapore will be bearing the cost during the recent Shangri-La dialogue, Ng told reporters, “Obviously yes, but it is a cost that we're willing to bear to play a small part in this historic meeting.”
On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said that the U.S. is not paying for North Korean officials to stay in Singapore during next week's summit.
People walk along Orchard Road, the most famous shopping street in Singapore, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-kyoung
Chua Boon Ping, chief executive officer of SPH Ventures, also approves of the government's stance.
“It is okay for Singapore to bear the cost as the historical event will bring strategic value to Singapore,” he said.
Zach Wen, owner and co-founder of Harmony Nasi Lemak, a local restaurant that has recently introduced a new menu called “Trump-Kim Chi Nasi Lemak” to commemorate the event, concurred.
“As a Singaporean, I don't mind if our government pays some costs for the historic summit,” he said.
“This is a good opportunity to show that Singapore is a small nation but with a big heart,” he added. “I hope people in Singapore take this positively.”
S. Rani, a communications consultant, thinks that as host, Singapore needs to foot the bill.
“As a Singaporean, I know?my government is no pushover and?we have been brought up to believe that nothing is for free,” he said.
“So we would have weighed the cost consequences over many times before making a decision.”
However, some Singaporeans are against the idea of footing any direct costs with their taxes.
They said that private services industries should share the cost because they will benefit from the landmark event.
“By hosting the event Singapore is already bearing significant costs through the provision of security and logistical services,” said Dicky Goh, a media consultant
“An example is the designation of the special event security zone. The police and military will be on high alert and stepped-up security services will require additional planning and staffing,” he added.
He believes the government will request private services providers such as hotels to charge reasonable rates.
“The indirect benefit to Singapore of hosting the event is the global image of the island's neutrality and the tourism benefits, with Singapore at center stage with global media coverage of the event,” he said.
Vincent Teo said that the summit will cause inconvenience for ordinary people.
“I think it's the disruption to ordinary Singaporeans' lives that is the invisible cost not accounted for,” he said.
“They should declare it a public holiday. The list of roads affected will bring traffic in commercial districts to a standstill,” he added. “In terms of actual cost, I feel all of Asia should chip in, as peace will benefit Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea the most.”