Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia on Wednesday summoned the Singaporean envoy to lodge a protest against "unjustified" comments made by the city-state's officials who described the situation in this country as "dangerous" and the leadership here as "incompetent".
The move came days after the publication of secret US cables containing the Singaporean diplomats' remarks following their leak by the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said he had conveyed the country's deep concern and displeasure over the unjustified comments by Singapore's senior officials in the protest note handed over to that country's High Commissioner T Jasudasan.
In an immediate response, his Singaporean counterpart George Yeo said he had called Anifah on Tuesday to clarify the republic's policy of not commenting on leaks.
"The specific complaints raised by Malaysia -- on what Singaporean officials are alleged by WikiLeaks to have said -- did not tally with our own records. One purported meeting (with US officials during which the 'remarks' were made) did not even take place," Yeo said in a statement.
He also said both Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of good bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation further.
Anifah had earlier in the day told reporters in Parliament that the Foreign Ministry was not expecting any apology from Singapore but wanted to put on record the government's displeasure on the actions of some Singaporean officials.
He said reports of the leaks did not benefit both countries and had caused Singapore leaders some embarrassment.
However, Anifah said he told Jasudasen that Singapore had to take into consideration the feelings of Malaysians.
Confidential diplomatic notes leaked by the whistle-blower website to Australia's Fairfax media group contained unflattering assessments by Singaporean diplomatic officials on "incompetent" Malaysian leadership.
Singapore senior diplomatic official Bilahari Kausikan reportedly told US Deputy Secretary of Defence for East Asia David Sedney in 2008 that "the situation in neighbouring Malaysia is confused and dangerous," fuelled by a "distinct possibility of racial conflict."
Officials contacted by 'The Star' said the protest note was necessary to send a strong signal to Singapore of Malaysia's disappointment.
"The leak did not speak well of the warming up of bilateral ties," said an official.
However, some in the government feel that there was no need to act on the leaks.
An unnamed official quoted by the newspaper said that Singapore could just brush aside the note, adding that: "I don't think any country has sent a protest note because of WikiLeaks."
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