Alleged spying will not affect investments across causeway: Johor minister

Alleged spying will not affect investments across causeway: Johor minister
PHOTO: Alleged spying will not affect investments across causeway: Johor minister

JOHOR BARU - The alleged spying by the Singapore government in Malaysia will not affect investments made in Johor as most of it involves the private sector, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The Mentri Besar said the bulk of investments from across the causeway into the state, especially in Iskandar Malaysia, were private companies, and not the government's.

Mohamed Khaled urged the people to let the Federal Government investigate the issue before jumping to conclusions.

"This involves government-to-government discussions and I believe that the government has the people's interest in mind over the alleged spying.

"We should not take drastic actions just yet as the allegations have still not been proven," he said after attending a mass circumcision ceremony held at Kampung Plentong Baru here yesterday.

Mohamed Khaled was asked to comment on several Malay-rights non-governmental organisations that had requested the Govern­ment to review its ties with the island republic and investments the country had made into Iskandar Malaysia.

Singapore was a key partner of the 5-Eyes intelligence group, which allegedly tapped telephones and monitored communication networks in Kuala Lumpur.

Based on information leaked by intelligence whistleblower Ed­­ward Snowden, Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad reported that Singa­pore was a key "third party" providing the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand access to Malaysia's communication channels.

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald cited documents leaked by Snowden that alleged that Singapore's military intelligence was helping American, British and Australian spy agencies tap data passing through a major undersea cable partly-owned by Singapore Telecom­munications Ltd.

It was reported that Wisma Putra had summoned Singapore High Commissioner Ong Keng Yong to clarify the matter.

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