Singapore Thinks Asian Allies Corrupt, Incompetent: Cables

[george]

Singapore thinks Asian allies corrupt, incompetent: cables

Singaporean diplomats think the leaders of some close Asian allies are corrupt, incompetent or stupid, cables from Wikileaks revealed Sunday.

Confidential diplomatic notes given by the whistleblower website to Australia's Fairfax media group contained unflattering assessments of key figures in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Japan.

"A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia," permanent secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan reportedly told US Deputy Secretary of Defence for East Asia David Sedney in a cable dated September 2008.

As such, "the situation in neighbouring Malaysia is confused and dangerous," fuelled by a "distinct possibility of racial conflict" that could see ethnic Chinese "flee" Malaysia and "overwhelm" Singapore, Bilahari was quoted as saying.

Another official, Peter Ho, reportedly described Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as "an opportunist" who "would not hesitate" to be critical of Singapore if "it is expedient for him to do so."

He said allegations linking Najib to the murder of a Mongolian woman in 2006, which the leader has strongly rejected, would continue to "haunt" his political fortunes.

Bilahari was also critical of the Thai government in 2008, labelling then premier Thaksin Shinawatra as "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition."

He also warned of continued instability in Thailand.

In another 2009 memo, Singapore's ambassador at large Tommy Koh -- known for being mild-mannered and eloquent in public -- was uncharacteristically blunt in his assessment of Japan and India.

"Koh described Japan as 'the big fat loser' in the context of improving ties between China and ASEAN," a leaked cable detailing a meeting between him and US officials stated.

"He attributed the relative decline of Japan's stature in the region to Japan's 'stupidity, bad leadership, and lack of vision,'" it added.

"He was equally merciless towards India, describing his 'stupid Indian friends' as 'half in, half out' of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.)"

There was no immediate reaction from the Singapore government to the leaks but the pro-government Straits Times has reproduced the potentially controversial remarks on its website.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-12

[TheWalkingMan]

He hit the nail on the head with this quote, "He attributed the relative decline of Japan's stature in the region to Japan's 'stupidity, bad leadership, and lack of vision,'" it added.

Spot on the money.

TheWalkingMan

]

[x5david]

Wonder if the statement about the 2008 Thai government and Thaksin is a misquote....Thaksin having been ousted in 2006 was not even in the country in 2008...however, still agree with the then and current government for that matter being corrupt

[geriatrickid]

Puts the Singapore state paranoia in perspective doesn't it. Next door to a ticking time bomb called Malaysia where ethnic unrest simmers and a fear of a refugee crisis. Sums up the Indians and Japanese quite nicely. As for Thailand, same sh*t aint it?

[Chang_paarp]

Blunt if said as quoted, but accurate.

Just another case of wikileaks confirming what we all thought but thought the diplomats were ignoring. Seems they were just being diplomatic in public.

[chuang]

Most people know that....

[lonewolf99]

He hit the nail on the head with this quote, "He attributed the relative decline of Japan's stature in the region to Japan's 'stupidity, bad leadership, and lack of vision,'" it added.

Spot on the money.

TheWalkingMan

]

lack of vision conjures up the old "Japanese Sniper" and I know that the Japanese language has "no future tense"...not easy to plan ahead ?....I worked for a Jap company that had all the bowing and scraping and what ever you do, do not give the boss bad news....just lie instead culture...

I also worked in Singapore ...and then Paranoia set in...the MRT has TV screens showing Singapore army and airforce "keeping the place safe" so the rest of the population can sleep easy at night...the Taxis carry Civil Defense hand books with First Aid advise and where to hide down the storm drain system in the event of an "attack" from the neighbours....

But at least they are not corrupt ....

[rubl]

Blunt if said as quoted, but accurate.

Just another case of wikileaks confirming what we all thought but thought the diplomats were ignoring. Seems they were just being diplomatic in public.

I like this post in a somewhat related topic:

Edited December 12, 2010 by rubl

[SantiSuk]

When it comes to Singapore's long-standing rivalry with Malaysia people in galss houses shouldn't throw stones.

[webfact]

WIKILEAKS

The gossiping Singaporeans : Wikileaks

By Asiaone online

Thaksin Shinawatra was "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition.: former Singaporean permanent secretary

WikiLeaks has released latest US State Department cables exclusively to Australia's Fairfax Media group that allegedly carry controversial comments by senior Singapore foreign affairs officials on Malaysia, Thailand and other countries in the region.

Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age carried the content of the cables in their Sunday editions, Asiaone online reported Sunday.

The cables reportedly detail separate meetings in 2008 and last year between senior US officials and their Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) counterparts Peter Ho, Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh.

Ho and Kausikan were both permanent secretaries at the MFA at the time, and the latter still holds that position. Koh is the ministry's ambassador-at-large.

Another cable dated November 2008, reporting the conversations of US diplomats with their Australian counterparts, mentions former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case.

The cable reportedly says: "The Australians said that Singapore's intelligence services and Lee Kuan Yew have told Australia's Office of National Assessments (ONA) in their exchanges that opposition leader Anwar 'did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted'."

The report adds that unnamed "Singaporeans" made the assessment on the basis of "technical intelligence", which is likely to relate to intercepted communications.

The Australian ONA is also recorded as saying its Singapore counterparts concurred with its assessment that Mr Anwar's sodomy charge "was a set-up job and he probably knew that, but walked into it anyway".

Koh allegedly described Japan as "the big fat loser" in the context of improving ties between China and Asean.

He attributed the relative decline of Japan's stature in the region to Japan's "stupidity, bad leadership, and lack of vision."

He also allegedly did not spare India and was equally merciless towards them, describing his "stupid Indian friends" as "half in, half out of Asean."

Ho alleged assessment of Malaysia according to WikiLeaks as reported by the Australian press stated that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been "throwing stones" at his replacement, Abdullah Badawi.

"As for... Najib Razak, he is an opportunist. Although he has not been critical of Singapore, he will not hesitate to go in that direction if it is expedient for him to do so." the report quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile Kausikan was also allegedly critical in his assessment of Singapore's other neighbour, Thailand reported the Australian press.

He had supposedly said that Thaksin Shinawatra was "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition".

He was also implicated in the cables for his assessments of Singapore's neighbours reported the Australian press.

He was allegedly quoted telling 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" that could see ethnic Chinese "flee" Malaysia and "overwhelm" Singapore.

He supposedly also said: "A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia," Kausikan said, citing the need for Najib Razak - now Malaysia's Prime Minister - to "prevail politically in order to avoid prosecution" in connection with a 2006 murder investigation linked to one of Mr Najib's aides.

The Australian press also mentioned that Kausikan had raised his worries about other neighbouring countries and their state of affairs in his 2008 report.

He had supposedly said that Burma's neighbours, including China and India, are "more concerned with stability than justice" and they feared the Burmese junta's demise could produce "an Asian reprise of the breakup of Yugoslavia".

Also that he would be "more comfortable with a nuclear-capable North Korea, than a nuclear-capable Iran".

The report also finally pointed out that he had apparently said that Russia's economy is "Third World", its health system a shambles and its demographic challenges almost insurmountable.

-- The Nation 2010-12-12

[ginjag]

Wonder if the statement about the 2008 Thai government and Thaksin is a misquote....Thaksin having been ousted in 2006 was not even in the country in 2008...however, still agree with the then and current government for that matter being corrupt

How does anyone expect our man in charge here in Thailand to get this place corrupt free in a short time-----for gods sake--how can you clean up the canals here quickly.

[whybother]

Wonder if the statement about the 2008 Thai government and Thaksin is a misquote....Thaksin having been ousted in 2006 was not even in the country in 2008...however, still agree with the then and current government for that matter being corrupt

Maybe they actually got it right. There was a PPP government in 2008, and maybe the Singoreans realised that Thaksin was really the boss. He did choose his brother in law to be PM after all.

Edited December 12, 2010 by whybother

[asiawatcher]

Perhaps if we were to look into the farce that is Singapore and peel away the petals of the Asian Rose you will also see more than what has been 'claimed' here. Would seem to me the pot calling the kettle black. The Lee family fir starters.

[brahmburgers]

"He also allegedly did not spare India and was equally merciless towards them, describing his "stupid Indian friends" as "half in, half out of Asean."

India is not really in SE Asia, so is not expected to be in ASEAN. Geographically, calling it 'half in, half out' is rather accurate. Plus, who wants to be fully in with ASEAN who have proved to be a bunch of patsies with the backbones as stout as baby pantywaist elastic - and that includes Singaporean members.

As for calling Thaksin 'corrupt' - that's like calling water wet. What else is new?

[Johpa]

Perhaps if we were to look into the farce that is Singapore and peel away the petals of the Asian Rose you will also see more than what has been 'claimed' here. Would seem to me the pot calling the kettle black.

Yes, no mention of Singapore's bankers having no qualms about hosting the revenues from the Burmese ruling junta who obtained the money by pillaging that country's natural resources, facilitated by literally raping the minority populace. The Singaporean bankers also have a penchant for laundering the revenue from the regional drug trade.

[SamritT]

Bilahari was also critical of the Thai government in 2008, labelling then premier Thaksin Shinawatra as "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition." Opposition leader is Mark.

[tomyummer]

Wikileaks is awesome.

[animatic]

Blunt if said as quoted, but accurate.

Just another case of wikileaks confirming what we all thought but thought the diplomats were ignoring. Seems they were just being diplomatic in public.

That of course IS their job, be diplomatic, and know when to talk straight.

Sadly now the trust to be able to talk straight is greatly diminished,

and not just with American diplomats. This bad business will greatly diminish

inter-government communications in general and communication is understanding,

and understanding leads to peace...

[SamritT]

Singapore is not known for Freedom of speech / press are they?

[LaoPo]

Singapore is not known for Freedom of speech / press are they?

On the list:

# 136 Singapore

# 141 Malaysia

# 153 Thailand

Thailand is worse but that doesn't make Malaysia nor S'pore much better on the

Press Freedom Index 2010:

http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html

LaoPo

[trogers]

Meanwhile Kausikan was also allegedly critical in his assessment of Singapore's other neighbour' date=' Thailand reported the Australian press.

He had supposedly said that Thaksin Shinawatra was "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition".

[/quote']

Remember the law-bending and use of nominees in the case of Temasek acquiring Shin Corp?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_of_Shin_Corporation_to_Temasek_Holdings

The squeaky clean Singapore govt and its cronies seem to be willing to bed with those they called corrupted if the purpose serves their interests. Birds of a feather flock together?

[thedivezone]

Not sure what gives the singaporean government (or anyone in singapore, for that matter) the right to point their finger at anyone !

The singaporeans have been fleeced by their rulers for ages for the right to own a car, to hire a maid, to use the roads etc., so the singaporean government can sink billions of taxpayers money into Lehmann Brothers, AIS and others.

When it comes to moral integrity, the biggest joke of them all is singapore!

[Ricardo]

Time for a new slogan, "Amazing Asean", perhaps ?

[harrry]

I do not know why the State Department etc is worried about the cables. To me they show the diplomats actually doing something and a little better than expected. Now if they could only do an expose on conular staff it may make good reading.

[Thai at Heart]

Meanwhile Kausikan was also allegedly critical in his assessment of Singapore's other neighbour' date=' Thailand reported the Australian press.

He had supposedly said that Thaksin Shinawatra was "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition".

[/quote']

Remember the law-bending and use of nominees in the case of Temasek acquiring Shin Corp?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_of_Shin_Corporation_to_Temasek_Holdings

The squeaky clean Singapore govt and its cronies seem to be willing to bed with those they called corrupted if the purpose serves their interests. Birds of a feather flock together?

Of course, the advice for such a structure was proposed by a rather respectable law firm in Thailand. And ironically, is used by hundreds if not thousands of companies in the country.

[jayboy]

Meanwhile Kausikan was also allegedly critical in his assessment of Singapore's other neighbour' date=' Thailand reported the Australian press.

He had supposedly said that Thaksin Shinawatra was "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition".

[/quote']

Remember the law-bending and use of nominees in the case of Temasek acquiring Shin Corp?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sale_of_Shin_Corporation_to_Temasek_Holdings

The squeaky clean Singapore govt and its cronies seem to be willing to bed with those they called corrupted if the purpose serves their interests. Birds of a feather flock together?

Of course, the advice for such a structure was proposed by a rather respectable law firm in Thailand. And ironically, is used by hundreds if not thousands of companies in the country.

And supported by the then Siam Commercial Bank with its elite shareholders.

[jayboy]

Bilahari was also critical of the Thai government in 2008, labelling then premier Thaksin Shinawatra as "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition." Opposition leader is Mark.

Personally I have always found the Singapore leadership cadre to be nuts, intelligent yes but a bit barking.Bilahari, Koh, Mahubani (the craziest "can Asians think?" of the lot).

Grudging respect for Harry Lee though.

[LomSak27]

Bilahari was also critical of the Thai government in 2008, labelling then premier Thaksin Shinawatra as "corrupt" along with "everyone else, including the opposition

Unlike the head in the sand expats, Bilahari's spot on.

"including the opposition" Bingo

[alstaxi]

Most people know that....

[macsurf]

Lee Kuan Yew created a new position for himself something like, 'Tutorial Minister, or Advising Minister' (singaporeans help me out here), but truthfully long retired. With salary of nearly 4 Million SG$ per year. That's more than the US President, more than LOTS of Presidents.

Pots calling Kettles black. What a joke.