Malaysia wants Singapore to explain the damaging remarks

Malaysia wants Singapore to explain the damaging remarks allegedly made by its senior government officials against Malaysia and its Prime Minister, reported The Star.

Malaysia’s officials said it would be best to wait for Singapore’s explanation before any reaction was given.

“I am sure Singapore will explain soon enough. I am sure some people are already embarrassed with the leak,” said a senior official commenting on leaked US diplomatic cables exposed by WikiLeaks.

The cables, recorded in 2008 and 2009, involved Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) senior officials Peter Ho; Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh in meetings with US Deputy Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney.

Kausikan reportedly said: “A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia”, citing the need for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prevail politically over the murder case of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

In his reply to media on Sunday, Singapore’s Foreign Minister George Yeo had dismissed these comments as confidential “gossip and cocktail talk” which should not have been released.

He added that the ministry would not check the veracity of the remarks, nor comment on what could have gone on in an informal and confidential setting.

Malaysia’s officials should take note that Singapore’s elite million-dollar ministers and officials can never be wrong and even if they are, its just an “honest mistake”.

What happened was indeed very bad, Malaysia should just move on.

- THE TEMASEK REVIEW.