KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Nov: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) objects to the government’s rejection of the motion condemning spying by the United States (US), Australia and Singapore on Malaysia.

The General Chief of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said that the government’s weak attitude on the issue shows the weaknesses of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership.

“We do not agree with the weak ways of the government. I repeat that the government is submissive in handling this issue, as I mentioned last week.

“I object to this serious issue, which touches on interests, security and reputation of the country, that can be wilfully rejected,” said Anwar to Keadilan Daily today.

The urgent motion tabled yesterday by the Member of Parliament for Bukit Katil, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, was rejected by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on grounds that it need not be discussed urgently.

The motion was tabled in accordance to the Standing Order 18(1) was to condemn the actions by the three countries for allegedly working together to intercept Malaysia’s radio, telecommunication and internet information to spy on the Malaysian Government and the nation’s leadership.

Shamsul, when reading the motion, said that 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.

“The latest, as reported by the 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.

“While we recognise diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the US, Australia and Singapore is based on the key element of trust, activities of espionage and spying on each of the country’s leadership certainly violates Malaysia’s sovereignty and independence,” said Shamsul who is also the Chief of the PKR Youth Wing.

He said that Malaysia should emulate Brazil, Germany and Indonesia, which expressed their objections by demanding an apology and recalling their ambassadors from Australia.