Malaysia warns US to stop spy activities

KUALA LUMPUR - Wisma Putra is working with all relevant agencies to investigate claims by former intelligence analyst Edward Snowden that the United States had been spying on several countries, including Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said yesterday the Foreign Affairs Ministry had been monitoring the situation closely since the revelation was made.

"There is no formal report on the incident yet but Wisma Putra had summoned the US ambassador to Malaysia and handed over protest notes early last month.

"We have also expressed our disappointment and warned the US to stop such activities to ensure that the bilateral relationship between the countries would not be affected," he told Senator Mariany Mohammad Yit at the Dewan Negara yesterday.

Mariany had asked the prime minister to state the government's response to threats of espionage, foreign intrusion and data management.

Shahidan said the government had taken measures to ensure that all data, documents and official secrets were secured.

He said the government also had a special vetting system to inspect the background of officers dealing with sensitive information and these officers were required to take oaths before taking on their duties.

In October, Snowden had revealed that the US National Security Agency ran a signals intelligence programme called "Stateroom" in which US, British, Australian and Canadian embassies secretly housed equipment to collect electronic communications.

A few days later, Snowden claimed Singapore was a key third party in providing intelligence on Malaysia.