Foreign Ministry of Malaysia will call in the High Commissioner of Singapore on Tuesday, 26 November in order to seek clarifications on the alleged spying activities by Singapore against Malaysia

RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS ON THE ALLEGED SPYING ACTIVITIES BY SINGAPORE AGAINST MALAYSIA

The Government of Malaysia is extremely concerned about reports of alleged spying by a number of countries on Malaysia.
The Malaysian authorities have taken appropriate actions with regard to earlier allegations of spying by the United States and Australia. The Malaysian authorities are now investigating thoroughly the latest media report about the involvement of other countries, in particular Singapore, in the spying activities against Malaysia.
If those allegations are eventually proven, it is certainly a serious matter that the Government of Malaysia strongly rejects and abhors. The security and sovereignty of Malaysia remains the utmost priority of the Malaysian Government.
It cannot be overemphasised that spying against a good friend and neighbour is unacceptable and goes against the true spirit of and commitment to a good neighbourly relations. Malaysia and Singapore currently enjoy mutually beneficial and strong ties as reflected by the excellent relations between the two Prime Ministers and the expanding areas of cooperation.
The Ministry will call in the High Commissioner of Singapore on Tuesday, 26 November in order to seek clarifications on the alleged spying activities by Singapore against Malaysia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
PUTRAJAYA

25 November 2013


RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS ON THE ALLEGED SPYING ACTIVITIES BY SINGAPORE ON MALAYSIA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia has today sought clarifications from Singapore pertaining to the allegations of its involvement in spying activities on Malaysia, as earlier reported in the media, by calling in the High Commissioner of Singapore, H.E. Ong Keng Yong, to meet with the Ministry’s Secretary General, Datuk Othman Hashim, in Wisma Putra.
The Secretary General conveyed Malaysia’s deep concern over the alleged spying activities by Singapore on Malaysia and made clear that such activities infringe on the sovereignty of Malaysia and also on privacy of individuals. Such activities are certainly not done amongst partners and close neighbours like Malaysia and Singapore when both sides are cultivating mutually beneficial strategic and strong partnership. The reported spying activities have caused considerable anger and disappointment amongst Malaysians.
The High Commissioner undertook to convey the necessary clarifications sought by Malaysia to his government and would revert with such clarifications to Wisma Putra at the earliest opportunity. Singapore also values its excellent ties with Malaysia as evident by active collaboration between the two countries in many areas. The High Commissioner also assured that Singapore has no intention to do any harm to its partners.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
PUTRAJAYA

26 November 2013

U.S. Secret Service under spotlight after prostitution flap in Colombia, 16 April 2012

WASHINGTON (Reuters)Monday 16 April 2012 - They are known for their shiny sunglasses, dark suits, and stern gazes. But they are men too and have this sexual desires.

Secret Service agents, the men and women who protect U.S. leaders, are as much a part of the American political tableau as the presidents, cabinet officials, and candidates they shadow and protect.

But, unlike their high-profile charges, they are not supposed to make news.

The suspension of 11 agents this weekend after alleged misconduct involving prostitutes in Colombia brought unwelcome headlines and attention to the agency's culture.

One critic said the incident reflected a systemic breakdown of standards and practices among overworked agents that could leave a president vulnerable to an attack.

An investigation will show whether the event, which overshadowed President Barack Obama's meetings with Latin American leaders in Cartagena, Colombia, was an unfortunate anomaly or a sign of an agency-wide problem.

Either way, it shed light on the human frailties and working conditions of a group expected to perform discreet and self-sacrificing services for U.S. leaders.

People familiar with the Secret Service described long work hours on stressful presidential trips, some of which are scheduled at the last minute.

Agents often meet at hotel bars at the end of the day on such trips to drink and unwind. Those who are not traveling with the president sometimes hold "wheels-up" parties after Air Force One has lifted off for Washington or another destination.

On Thursday, some U.S. agents brought a number of prostitutes back to a beachfront hotel in Cartagena near where Obama was due to stay the following day, according to a local police source, sparking a weekend of scandal.

"We've heard about these wheel-up parties when the president leaves," said congressman Darrell Issa, speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation" program.

"Well, this was a pre-wheel-down. So the question is, is the whole organization in need of some soul-searching, some changes ... before the president, the vice president, members of the cabinet are in danger?"

Ralph Basham, a former director of the agency who is now a principal with Command Consulting Group, said the incident was a rare mishap for an agency that prides itself on its professionalism.

"I do not believe that there is a systemic problem in the Secret Service because if there were, this wouldn't be such a huge story," he told Reuters in an interview.

"This is really an abnormality."

"WILLING TO TAKE A BULLET"

David Gergen, a political analyst who worked for four presidents including Ronald Reagan, who survived an assassination attempt thanks to Secret Service protection, said occasional incidents such as the one in Colombia were not out of character given the masculinity of many in the profession.

Overall, he said, the agents were brave, outstanding people.

"These are guys who are willing to take a bullet to save a president. I've seen them do that," Gergen said. "My hope is people keep it in perspective."

One prominent critic was less forgiving, saying the connection to prostitutes should end the careers of the agents involved.

"The fact that they were engaged in this conduct, you know, compromises the agents," said Ronald Kessler, author of "In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes With Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect."

"The prostitutes could have blackmailed them, could have been involved with terrorists, drug cartel people, or foreign intelligence services," he said. "Any foreign intelligence service would love to get a Secret Service agent in their pocket."

Kessler said the events in Colombia were illustrative of a general slide of Secret Service standards. He cited the admittance of uninvited guests to a White House holiday party early in Obama's tenure as further evidence of lax behavior.

The Secret Service stressed that Obama's safety was never in question and rejected Kessler's claims of a wider problem.

"We have hundreds of personnel that travel around the world every day that conduct thousands of security advances, thousands of events, and we don't have incidents like this that occur,' said Ed Donovan, an agency spokesman. "It's an anomaly."

Obama, speaking at the end of the summit, said he, too, would withhold judgment until all of the facts were established.

"These men and women perform extraordinary service on a day- to-day basis protecting me, my family, U.S. officials. They do very hard work under very stressful circumstances and almost invariably do an outstanding job," he told reporters.

Even so, Obama said he would be "angry" if the allegations about the agents in Colombia proved true.

"I'll wait until the full investigation is completed before I pass final judgment," he said.