Re: Wikileaks: Singapore badmouths neigbours
WikiLeaks quotes taken out of context: George Yeo
By Jalelah Abu Baker & Yen Feng
THE controversial comments allegedly made by Singapore's senior diplomats were taken out of context, and were interpretations of views reflected by United States officials, said Foreign Minister George Yeo yesterday.
The comments, which Mr Yeo described as "cocktail talk", were confidential, and should not have been released.
The ministry therefore would not respond to the remarks, he said, as it would not be right to comment on what might have passed in an informal and confidential setting.
'That is what certain individuals said about others, there could be a diversity of views,' he said. 'They have probably said things about me that I don't agree with.'
He also urged the public not to read too much into the comments, said to have been taken from confidential US State Department cables released by WikiLeaks, a whistle-blowing website.
'I think it's best that we respect the confidentiality of diplomatic communications,' he said.
'People say things in a blunt, forthright way. I don't think we should divorce, even if true, what is said from the context.
'I don't think we should over-interpret such communications.'
Mr Yeo was speaking on the sidelines of a book launch at the Eurasian Association yesterday. His comments come a day after two Australian newspapers - The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age - published alleged comments made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials Peter Ho, Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh.
The US State Department cables reportedly detail separate meetings in 2008 and last year between the diplomats and senior US officials.
Mr Ho and Mr Kausikan were both MFA permanent secretaries at the time, and the latter still holds that position. Mr Koh is the ministry's ambassador-at-large.
The officials were quoted criticising the leaders of Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries in the region.
In one example, Professor Koh is said to have described Japan as a 'big fat loser' in the context of improving ties between China and Asean.
In another, Mr Kausikan reportedly told US Deputy Secretary of Defence for East Asia David Sedney during a meeting in September 2008 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.
At the time, then Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was blamed for the ruling party losing ground in a March general election, and some Malay groups were calling for a reassertion of Malay rights.
But Mr Yeo yesterday sought to play down the remarks, saying that they would not affect Singapore's diplomatic relations with other countries.
Even as he condemned WikiLeaks as 'bad practice', he added that diplomatic relations between Singapore and the US will go on. 'The diplomatic world will continue, hard subjects will still be addressed,' he said.
He also questioned if The Sunday Times should have lifted the Australian reports on the leaked cables.
'I'm not sure if The Sunday Times should be putting out all this because really, it's adding to all the melee.
'You know, it's gossip, and it doesn't help.'
Asked how the leaked cables would damage international diplomatic ties, Mr Yeo said that unlike most countries, the US has laws to protect groups who release sensitive information if they happen to have it.
He contrasted the American freedom of speech with the situation in Singapore, where under the Official Secrets Act here, leaking such confidential information is considered a crime and an offender is liable to a fine and a jail term, or is liable to prosecution.
But even as the Americans maintain their right to information, it is clear it could come at the cost of future diplomatic relations. Mr Yeo said that future diplomatic communications between countries would be more difficult.
'As if when we talk, we talk on the basis that there is a camera in the room recording everything we say,' the minister said. 'We lose something when that happens.'
And with American diplomacy, in particular, it would lead to officials treading carefully - even in private communications.
'Because, well, we can never be sure, and now since we're not sure, you should always err on (the side of) safety and manage the risk.'
Since 250,000 cables were leaked, it was inevitable that 'a few would emanate from Singapore', the minister said, adding that 'juicier bits' may come as the saga continues.
The first leaked confidential document concerning Singapore, reported last month, contained Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's purported remarks that North Korean leaders are 'psychopathic types'.
Among the cables leaked, about 900 were said to be linked to Singapore.
In an earlier response, the MFA had said that it 'expressed deep concerns about the damaging action of WikiLeaks'.
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