- Joined
- Mar 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,160
- Points
- 0
WikiLeaks: Singapore diplomats told US officials
Malaysia lacks competent leadership
December 12th, 2010 | Author: Editorial
Despite the warming ties between Singapore and Malaysia since Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak assumed the latter’s premiership a year ago, it appeared that Singapore leaders still harbored reservations about his competency.
In the latest diplomatic cables leaked by whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks, three top officials from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) were quoted giving disparaging remarks about the Najib administration to U.S. officials between 2008 and 2009 which may affect US’s foreign policy and attitude towards Malaysia.
The cables were made exclusive to Australia’s prominent newspaper the Sunday Morning Herald which carried a scorching headline “Singapore leaders insult Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.” (read full article here)
Kausikan, a senior diplomat from MFA reportedly told the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney that the situation in Malaysia is “confused and dangerous”, fuelled by the distinct possibility of racial conflict” that could see ethnic Chinese “flee Malaysia and overwhelm Singapore”.
He added bluntly that the “lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia” and cited the need for Najib to “prevail politically” in order to avoid prosecution in the sensational murder case of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Datuk Najib was embroiled in the high profile case by damaging revelations by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarrudin who claimed that he had met the slain model and might even have an “intimate” relationship with her.
However, the storm has since blown over with Najib now enjoying high popular ratings for his management of the economy since he became prime minister during which he had also concluded several deals with his counterpart in Singapore.
The latest stunning revelations of how low an opinion Singapore officials had of Malaysian leaders is likely to trigger another round of renewed hostilities between the two neighbors who went separate ways acrimoniously in 1965, with influential Malaysia online daily, The Malaysian Insider warning that the “Singapore officials’ jibe risks warning ties with Malaysia.
The news was not carried by the state media of both countries. Neither were there any comments from MFA or Foreign Minister George Yeo.
Jay
Malaysia lacks competent leadership
December 12th, 2010 | Author: Editorial
Despite the warming ties between Singapore and Malaysia since Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak assumed the latter’s premiership a year ago, it appeared that Singapore leaders still harbored reservations about his competency.
In the latest diplomatic cables leaked by whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks, three top officials from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) were quoted giving disparaging remarks about the Najib administration to U.S. officials between 2008 and 2009 which may affect US’s foreign policy and attitude towards Malaysia.
The cables were made exclusive to Australia’s prominent newspaper the Sunday Morning Herald which carried a scorching headline “Singapore leaders insult Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.” (read full article here)
Kausikan, a senior diplomat from MFA reportedly told the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for East Asia David Sedney that the situation in Malaysia is “confused and dangerous”, fuelled by the distinct possibility of racial conflict” that could see ethnic Chinese “flee Malaysia and overwhelm Singapore”.
He added bluntly that the “lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia” and cited the need for Najib to “prevail politically” in order to avoid prosecution in the sensational murder case of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Datuk Najib was embroiled in the high profile case by damaging revelations by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarrudin who claimed that he had met the slain model and might even have an “intimate” relationship with her.
However, the storm has since blown over with Najib now enjoying high popular ratings for his management of the economy since he became prime minister during which he had also concluded several deals with his counterpart in Singapore.
The latest stunning revelations of how low an opinion Singapore officials had of Malaysian leaders is likely to trigger another round of renewed hostilities between the two neighbors who went separate ways acrimoniously in 1965, with influential Malaysia online daily, The Malaysian Insider warning that the “Singapore officials’ jibe risks warning ties with Malaysia.
The news was not carried by the state media of both countries. Neither were there any comments from MFA or Foreign Minister George Yeo.
Jay
