Malaysia summons Singapore envoy over claim it helped spy on neighbour
Singapore diplomat summoned after reports the city state helps West snoop on its neighbour
Malaysia’s government summoned Singapore’s high commissioner for talks on Tuesday, saying it was “extremely concerned” by media reports that the city-state helps Western intelligence agencies spy on its Southeast Asian neighbour.
Media reports citing documents leaked by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden put Singapore, a key US ally, at the centre of a spy network that reportedly taps undersea cables in the region.
“If those allegations are eventually proven, it is certainly a serious matter that the Government of Malaysia strongly rejects and abhors,” Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement late on Monday.
“It cannot be overemphasised that spying against a good friend and neighbour is unacceptable and goes against the true spirit of, and commitment to, good neighbourly relations.”
A souring of Singapore-Malaysia ties would worsen the fallout on US allies from spying accusations in Southeast Asia. Last week, Indonesia downgraded diplomatic ties with staunch US ally Australia following media reports that Canberra spied on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife.
Citing documents leaked by Snowden, Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald said Singapore military intelligence helped US, British and Australian spy agencies harvest data passing through a major undersea cable called SEA-ME-WE 3 that is part-owned by Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel).