Missile
deal adds to strain
South China Morning Post July 20, 1999
IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur
A CARTOON in the Star newspaper yesterday showed Foreign
Minister Syed Hamid Albar saying he had "many issues to declare"
as he waited at a Singapore border checkpoint.
A new addition to the list of issues between Malaysia and Singapore - which range from traffic jams at the Causeway linking the two countries to questions involving water supply, air space and territory - has highlighted a major divide in bilateral relations.
It surfaced when Deputy Defence Minister Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan expressed concern over an announcement that the Singapore Armed Forces had purchased the Spike anti-tank guided missile from an Israeli company.
The weapon, which can destroy armoured targets up to 4km away, was developed in collaboration with Singapore Technologies, a key component of the island republic's defence industry.
Mr Fadzil said Malaysia did not "feel good" about co-operation between the defence industries of Singapore and Israel.
He said that while Singapore had the right to acquire weapons from various sources, the republic should be more sensitive to Malaysia's feelings when it co-operated with Israel.
Singapore has had close ties with Israel, which helped it develop a top regional military force, since it gained independence. Muslim-majority Malaysia does not recognise Israel.
Mr Fadzil said he hoped Singapore would show more consideration when it came to co-operation with Israel.
Published in the South China Morning Post. July 20, 1999.