In case you’ve been cut off from social media today, the buzz online is all about whether NSP’s Nicole Seah will be suing the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) for alleged defamatory reports about her current dating history. More details on that here.

While many people are egging her on to sue the pants off SPH, one must wonder whether these lawsuit fanatics understand the complexity, energy and resources needed to start a lawsuit with SPH. And we haven’t even talked about trying to win it yet.

Perhaps a smarter way to go about things would be to look to how wars have been won. Unless you have a nuclear warhead or two up your sleeves, or in Nicole’s case, ace lawyers and a war chest full of money to outlast SPH’s lawyers, pure brute force is rarely the way to go.

Tactics, strategy and stratagems have long been used not only by militaries but companies too to achieve victory at significantly lower costs. Or as our Government would lovingly put it – winning wars cheaper, better, faster.

Most people know about Sun Tzu’s Art of War, but few know about the 36 Stratagems -- a list of ruses originating from China that pre-dates the Art of War. This list is still highly applicable in today’s context and there are several business strategy books you can find based on the 36 Stratagems.

So let’s find out which stratagems Nicole can use for her to get out ahead of this saga.

1. 以逸待劳

or Wait at leisure while your enemy labours

Judging from comments made online, Nicole has already won the ‘citizens' courts’ as many people think that she has a case to sue.

So in their minds, she has already won. Why should she spend valuable time and resources in a long drawn court battle when she can focus on improving NSP’s political presence? By taking this victory quickly, she can show that the mainstream media has done something not entirely credible and it is for the mainstream media to labour to earn back some credibility.

In contrast, imagine what would happen if she were to lose the lawsuit? She may end up losing her own credibility and not to mention who knows what 'dirt' might be used against her in court?

2. 借刀杀人

or Kill with a borrowed sword

In this case, the sword belongs to the mainstream media.

They dug their own graves with headlines that caused many people to call into question the journalistic integrity of the editor and journalist who worked on Nicole’s news article. The damage has been done. There’s no need to do them in in a court of law.

3. 顺手牵羊

or Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat

Loosely interpreted, this means being flexible taking advantage of an opportunity which arises, however small it may be. Nicole should take this period of time where the spotlight is shining brightly on her to promote some of the programmes she’s been doing for the community, for e.g. the MacPherson Tuition Project. This looks to be the best way to make the most out of this unfortunate situation.

Politics is war. No one needs to make a spectacle of their lives as Singapore politics needs to be about improving the lives of Singaporeans, not about being a spectator sport.

Photo from Nicole Seah Facebook page.

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