Malaysia Is Now Caught In The US Spy Scandal. What Will Najib Do?
Former CIA employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden recently revealed that the US and Australia are using their embassies in KL as a base to spy on radio, telephone and internet information. How will Malaysia respond to these allegations?
US and Australia Have Been Accused Of Spying On Malaysia And Other Asia-Pacific Countries
Australia and the United States have been accused of using diplomatic posts in the Asia-Pacific region as a base for political, diplomatic and economic intelligence.
yahoo.comRecently, the newspapers Der Spiegel and Sydney Morning Herald reported that the provider of intelligence information, Edward Snowden had exposed that intelligence had been carried out on Malaysia by the US embassy and the Australian High Commission to intercept radio information, telecommunication and the Internet.
mysinchew.comSnowden disclosed that the intelligence was carried under the operation codenamed "STATEROOM" which also involved Britain and Canada.
mysinchew.comEdward Snowden Claims That The US Embassy In KL Is Tapping Telephones And Monitoring Communication Networks
Snowden had alleged that the US was running a monitoring station in its Kuala Lumpur embassy to tap telephones and monitor communication networks.
themalaysianinsider.comAustralia’s Fairfax Media reported that the embassies involved are in Beijing, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi and Dili in East Timor; and High Commissions in Kuala Lumpur and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
todayonline.comChina, Indonesia And Philipines Have Demanded For An Explanation Over The Claims
In a statement, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said: "[The government] cannot accept and strongly protests the news of the existence of wiretapping facilities at the US embassy in Jakarta."
"If confirmed, such action is not only a breach of security, but also a serious breach of diplomatic norms and ethics."
bbc.co.ukChinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing was "extremely concerned" about the report.
"[China] demands that the US offer a clarification and explanation," she said. "We demand that foreign embassies in China and their staff respect the Vienna Convention."
bbc.co.ukMalaysia and the Philippines have warned diplomatic missions and officials in their countries not to engage in spying.
yahoo.comPM Najib Has Put His Foot Down Warning That Spying Is A Breach Of National Sovereignty
Najib said Malaysia had sent protest notes to the United States Embassy and the Australian High Commission on the alleged spying by both the foreign missions in this country.
theborneopost.com“It is a form of protest note (and) I have asked the Foreign Minister to make a statement accordingly, so we have done what is considered an appropriate response on our part,” Najib said.
thestar.com.myPrime Minister Najib Razak says any such activities against Malaysia are a breach of national sovereignty.
"In principle, we object to any form of spying and surveillance on any government," he said.
"This deals with the sovereignty of our country, and our country has had a good relationship with these two countries."
He said he had been informed that United States President Barack Obama had ordered for a review to be carried out on all of its embassy activities.
“So, we are waiting for the review.
“We hope the matter will not develop into a controversy in future,”
Malaysia Has Also Lodged A Formal Complaint, In The Form Of A Protest Note, To The Australia High-Comm And American Embassy
Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman also complained to Australian diplomats after reports that Australian intelligence agencies were cooperating with the NSA.
washingtontimes.comMr. Aman on Friday summoned Lee McClenny, the deputy ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, and Miles Kupa, the Australian ambassador in Kuala Lumpur. Mr. McClenny represented U.S. Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun, who was out of town.
washingtontimes.comThe foreign minister delivered protest notes to each diplomat “in response to the alleged spying activities carried out by the two embassies” in the Malaysian capital.
washingtontimes.comThe Home Ministry Will Work Closely With Wisma Putra To Investigate The Claims By Edward Snowden
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would work closely with Wisma Putra to look into the allegation by Edward Snowden (pic), a former employee of the US's National Security Agency.
themalaysianinsider.comMalaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his government viewed the allegations as a serious matter and would investigate whether the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was being used for spying.
go.comMalaysia's IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar Says They Will Not Hesitate To Arrest Any Foreign Diplomat Involved In Spying
Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, this week told local media any foreign diplomat involved in spying would be arrested.
"We will not hesitate because spying is a threat to the country’s sovereignty," he said.
abc.net.au"In the 1980s, we have arrested foreign diplomats involved in spying activities - we will do the same again if there is proof of such activities.
abc.net.au