KUALA LUMPUR, DEC 14 — Singapore moved to smoothen ruffled feathers in Malaysia tonight by denying a WikiLeaks expose on disparaging remarks made by its senior officials, saying what was alleged to have been said “did not tally with our own records.”
The island republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Minister George Yeo had called his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anifah Aman today “to clarify Singapore’s policy of not commenting on leaks”.
“On the specific complaints raised by the Malaysians, what Singapore officials were alleged by WikiLeaks to have said did not tally with our own records. One purported meeting did not even take place.
“Minister Yeo and Minister Anifah agreed on the importance of good bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation further,” said a media statement attributed to an MFA spokesman on the ministry’s website.
The spokesman also confirmed that Singapore’s High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur T. Jasudasen had been asked to see Anifah earlier today and had received a protest note regarding press reports of US Embassy cables leaked by WikiLeaks.
Anifah told reporters in Parliament that he conveyed Malaysia’s deep concern and displeasure over the comments as revealed by WikiLeaks and subsequently reported in the media.
The remarks made by Singapore’s senior government officials and aired in the whistleblower website had been “uncalled-for and unjustifiable”, he had said.
In their remarks, the Singapore officials had reportedly said “Malaysia’s decline” was fuelled by incompetent politicians. These officials were also less than complimentary about Malaysia’s prime ministers, past and present, with one of them calling Najib “an opportunist”.
But Anifah rubbished the remarks and pointed out that there was a vast difference between running a country like Singapore and Malaysia.
“As an MP, when I go down to the ground, some requests I get from the people is quite out of this world. Like in one village with five homes, there is a highway there and yet they asked me to build a bridge for them.
“I told them I cannot build such a bridge but I can build it in a different way. You may laugh but it is true.
“If I were to air the views of the electorate, Singapore would probably say – what is this?” he said.
Anifah reiterated that it running a city-state like Singapore was different from running a country like Malaysia.
“They do not have rural folks. Pehaps they face the same problems that what do. So what is this ‘incompetency’? Does it refer to how we run our country?” he said.
Malaysia’s move came after a day after Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday told Malaysians to ignore contemptuous regional neighbours and focus on achieving the country’s goals instead, in his first public comments about a WikiLeaks expose of diplomatic chatter from Singapore.
“We can show to our neighbours, that although sometimes they make disparaging remarks about us, that Malaysians can actually achieve,” Najib said in a speech at the 1 MCA Medical Foundation fund-raising dinner last night.
Singapore has also adopted the same tone.
“These relationships are built on a strong foundation of shared interests and mutually beneficial co-operation in many areas,” said a foreign ministry spokesman from the Lion City.
“Singapore has long-standing, robust and positive relationships with all countries in our region,” the spokesman said, adding countries based relationships on their own interests and “not hearsay or gossip”.
PKR officials had earlier asked Jasudasen, the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, to clarify the remarks made by the officials in 2008 and 2009.
Whistleblower WikiLeaks had on Sunday made available diplomatic cables disclose discussions between senior US officials and their Singapore counterparts Peter Ho, Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh. The contents of the cables were published by Australian newspaper The Sunday Age.
All three Singaporeans gave damning assessments of Malaysia. The discussions between the Singaporean and US officials took place in 2008 and 2009.
The trio had reportedly said “Malaysia’s decline” was fuelled by incompetent politicians.
These officials were also less than complimentary about Malaysia’s prime ministers, past and present, with one of them calling Najib “an opportunist”.
In September 2008, Kausikan, a senior foreign affairs official, told the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney that the “situation in neighbouring Malaysia is confused and dangerous”, fuelled by “a distinct possibility of racial conflict” that could see ethnic Chinese “flee” Malaysia and “overwhelm” Singapore.
“A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia,” said Kausikan, citing the need for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prevail politically in order to avoid prosecution in connection with the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“Najib has his neck on the line in connection with a high-profile murder case,” noted Kausikan.
A few months earlier, Peter Ho told another US official: “The political knives will be out for Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi’s) son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom nobody likes because he got where he is through family ties...”
Khairy is now the Umno Youth chief but has not been given an administrative post in Najib’s government despite being seen as one of the shrewder politicians in the country.
“As for Najib Razak, he is an opportunist. Although he has not been critical of Singapore, he will not hesitate to go in that direction if it is expedient for him to do so. Najib’s political fortunes continue to be haunted by the murder scandal,” Ho had reportedly said.
The leaked cables will give ammunition to hawks in the Malaysian government and Umno who believe that it is unproductive to have good relations with Singapore, whom they describe as calculative and condescending.
The Najib Administration has attempted to keep the relationship on an even keel and even untangled a long-standing dispute over Malaysian-owned railway land in the republic.
This breakthrough was made despite opposition by some quarters in the ruling party.
Both governments have agreed to set up a joint-venture company by December 31 to develop land parcels swapped for the prized railway land that cuts through the island state.
Anifah insisted today that despite the damaging comments by the officials, bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore were still sound.
“Ties are still good. That is why I said... I took solace in the fact that it was only issued by these officials and not the leaders of the nation. But then again, these people should have also taken into consideration the feelings of their neighbours.
“While it is their prerogative to say so, they must take into consideration their bilateral relationship with their closest neighbours,” he said.
Anifah however admitted that the incident would not benefit both nations, seeing as both prime ministers shared a good relationship.
“Of course, this whole thing was confidential. But if it is true that it was said, then at least we can explain to the people why,” he said.
According to the leaked cables, Singaporean and Australian intelligence officials had also noted that the sodomy charge facing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — Najib’s political rival — was a “set-up job” but the opposition leader had walked right into it.
The Australian intelligence had also claimed that it believed Anwar had engaged in sodomy, adding that the source was from Malaysia’s Special Branch police.
The opposition leader has since refused to take calls to comment on Australia’s The Sun-Herald report but responded via his Twitter micro-blogging account when queried.
“Source? Polis SB Msia. Bukti tak ada (Who is the source? Malaysian police Special Branch. There is no proof whatsoever),” Anwar replied.
In an earlier reply, the former deputy prime minister wrote: “Source? Msian SB ha ha.”
Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers have also demanded Singapore respond to the WikiLeaks’ revelation that regional intelligence agencies believe Anwar had committed sodomy, claiming that it was a “high-level conspiracy” implicating both the Malaysian and the island republic’s Special Branch police.
Anifah today noted that he had not met with Anwar on the matter but offered that the opposition leader had every right to declare his stand on the matter.
“It is true that when I travel overseas, his sodomy case is the most asked about issue. And although it is subjudice and I cannot speak about it, it is up to him to explain himself.
“But the point I would like to drive home now is that – everytime something is said, they always call it conspiratory politics,” he said.
Anifah pointed out that the claim against Anwar had not come from Malaysian leaders this time but from officials from neighbouring countries.
“Anwar has the avenue to explain,” he insisted.
The island republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Minister George Yeo had called his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anifah Aman today “to clarify Singapore’s policy of not commenting on leaks”.
“On the specific complaints raised by the Malaysians, what Singapore officials were alleged by WikiLeaks to have said did not tally with our own records. One purported meeting did not even take place.
“Minister Yeo and Minister Anifah agreed on the importance of good bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation further,” said a media statement attributed to an MFA spokesman on the ministry’s website.
The spokesman also confirmed that Singapore’s High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur T. Jasudasen had been asked to see Anifah earlier today and had received a protest note regarding press reports of US Embassy cables leaked by WikiLeaks.
Anifah told reporters in Parliament that he conveyed Malaysia’s deep concern and displeasure over the comments as revealed by WikiLeaks and subsequently reported in the media.
The remarks made by Singapore’s senior government officials and aired in the whistleblower website had been “uncalled-for and unjustifiable”, he had said.
In their remarks, the Singapore officials had reportedly said “Malaysia’s decline” was fuelled by incompetent politicians. These officials were also less than complimentary about Malaysia’s prime ministers, past and present, with one of them calling Najib “an opportunist”.
But Anifah rubbished the remarks and pointed out that there was a vast difference between running a country like Singapore and Malaysia.
“As an MP, when I go down to the ground, some requests I get from the people is quite out of this world. Like in one village with five homes, there is a highway there and yet they asked me to build a bridge for them.
“I told them I cannot build such a bridge but I can build it in a different way. You may laugh but it is true.
“If I were to air the views of the electorate, Singapore would probably say – what is this?” he said.
Anifah reiterated that it running a city-state like Singapore was different from running a country like Malaysia.
“They do not have rural folks. Pehaps they face the same problems that what do. So what is this ‘incompetency’? Does it refer to how we run our country?” he said.
Malaysia’s move came after a day after Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday told Malaysians to ignore contemptuous regional neighbours and focus on achieving the country’s goals instead, in his first public comments about a WikiLeaks expose of diplomatic chatter from Singapore.
“We can show to our neighbours, that although sometimes they make disparaging remarks about us, that Malaysians can actually achieve,” Najib said in a speech at the 1 MCA Medical Foundation fund-raising dinner last night.
Singapore has also adopted the same tone.
“These relationships are built on a strong foundation of shared interests and mutually beneficial co-operation in many areas,” said a foreign ministry spokesman from the Lion City.
“Singapore has long-standing, robust and positive relationships with all countries in our region,” the spokesman said, adding countries based relationships on their own interests and “not hearsay or gossip”.
PKR officials had earlier asked Jasudasen, the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, to clarify the remarks made by the officials in 2008 and 2009.
Whistleblower WikiLeaks had on Sunday made available diplomatic cables disclose discussions between senior US officials and their Singapore counterparts Peter Ho, Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh. The contents of the cables were published by Australian newspaper The Sunday Age.
All three Singaporeans gave damning assessments of Malaysia. The discussions between the Singaporean and US officials took place in 2008 and 2009.
The trio had reportedly said “Malaysia’s decline” was fuelled by incompetent politicians.
These officials were also less than complimentary about Malaysia’s prime ministers, past and present, with one of them calling Najib “an opportunist”.
In September 2008, Kausikan, a senior foreign affairs official, told the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney that the “situation in neighbouring Malaysia is confused and dangerous”, fuelled by “a distinct possibility of racial conflict” that could see ethnic Chinese “flee” Malaysia and “overwhelm” Singapore.
“A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia,” said Kausikan, citing the need for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prevail politically in order to avoid prosecution in connection with the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
“Najib has his neck on the line in connection with a high-profile murder case,” noted Kausikan.
A few months earlier, Peter Ho told another US official: “The political knives will be out for Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi’s) son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom nobody likes because he got where he is through family ties...”
Khairy is now the Umno Youth chief but has not been given an administrative post in Najib’s government despite being seen as one of the shrewder politicians in the country.
“As for Najib Razak, he is an opportunist. Although he has not been critical of Singapore, he will not hesitate to go in that direction if it is expedient for him to do so. Najib’s political fortunes continue to be haunted by the murder scandal,” Ho had reportedly said.
The leaked cables will give ammunition to hawks in the Malaysian government and Umno who believe that it is unproductive to have good relations with Singapore, whom they describe as calculative and condescending.
The Najib Administration has attempted to keep the relationship on an even keel and even untangled a long-standing dispute over Malaysian-owned railway land in the republic.
This breakthrough was made despite opposition by some quarters in the ruling party.
Both governments have agreed to set up a joint-venture company by December 31 to develop land parcels swapped for the prized railway land that cuts through the island state.
Anifah insisted today that despite the damaging comments by the officials, bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore were still sound.
“Ties are still good. That is why I said... I took solace in the fact that it was only issued by these officials and not the leaders of the nation. But then again, these people should have also taken into consideration the feelings of their neighbours.
“While it is their prerogative to say so, they must take into consideration their bilateral relationship with their closest neighbours,” he said.
Anifah however admitted that the incident would not benefit both nations, seeing as both prime ministers shared a good relationship.
“Of course, this whole thing was confidential. But if it is true that it was said, then at least we can explain to the people why,” he said.
According to the leaked cables, Singaporean and Australian intelligence officials had also noted that the sodomy charge facing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — Najib’s political rival — was a “set-up job” but the opposition leader had walked right into it.
The Australian intelligence had also claimed that it believed Anwar had engaged in sodomy, adding that the source was from Malaysia’s Special Branch police.
The opposition leader has since refused to take calls to comment on Australia’s The Sun-Herald report but responded via his Twitter micro-blogging account when queried.
“Source? Polis SB Msia. Bukti tak ada (Who is the source? Malaysian police Special Branch. There is no proof whatsoever),” Anwar replied.
In an earlier reply, the former deputy prime minister wrote: “Source? Msian SB ha ha.”
Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers have also demanded Singapore respond to the WikiLeaks’ revelation that regional intelligence agencies believe Anwar had committed sodomy, claiming that it was a “high-level conspiracy” implicating both the Malaysian and the island republic’s Special Branch police.
Anifah today noted that he had not met with Anwar on the matter but offered that the opposition leader had every right to declare his stand on the matter.
“It is true that when I travel overseas, his sodomy case is the most asked about issue. And although it is subjudice and I cannot speak about it, it is up to him to explain himself.
“But the point I would like to drive home now is that – everytime something is said, they always call it conspiratory politics,” he said.
Anifah pointed out that the claim against Anwar had not come from Malaysian leaders this time but from officials from neighbouring countries.
“Anwar has the avenue to explain,” he insisted.
No comments:
Post a Comment