KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Nov: The Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, rejected Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin’s (PKR-Bukit Katil) motion to scrutinise the spying of three countries on Malaysia, in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The urgent motion, tabled under the Standing Order 18(1) was to condemn the actions by the United States (US), Singapore and Australia for allegedly working together to intercept Malaysia’s radio, telecommunication and internet information to spy on the nation’s leadership, was rejected on grounds that it does not need to be discussed immediately.
Shamsul said that Australian newspapers, Der Spiegel and the Sydney Morning Herald, reported that intelligence collection was being conducted on Malaysia by the US and Australian embassies, as disclosed by the former US security contractor, Edward Snowden.
“Netherlands media, the NRC Handelsblad, revealed that Singapore was also helping provide access to communication and was a key partner in the ‘5-Eves’ intelligence group led by the US for the purpose of recording phone conversations and to monitor the communications network in Kuala Lumpur.
“Meanwhile, Fairfax (Australia) revealed that Singapore is a friend to the Australian electronic intelligence agency, the “Defence Signals Directorate” to bypass the SEA-ME-WE 3 cables; the longest telecommunications cables in the world managed by Singtel, a telecommunications company owned by the Singapore government.
“The activities of espionage and spying on each of the country’s leadership certainly violates Malaysia’s sovereignty and independence, not to mention that we recognise the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the US, Australia, as well as Singapore, is based on trust,” he said quoted from Malaysiakini.
He said that Malaysia should emulate Brazil, Germany and Indonesia, which expressed their objections by demanding an apology and recalling their ambassadors from Australia.
“The failure of the government, especially the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) in issuing a strong stand will result in such rude acts to continue,” he said.