Wisma Putra has summoned Singapore High Commissioner to clarify news reports that the republic has been 'spying' on Malaysia over the past few decades.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had already summoned the heads of the US and Australian missions earlier in November in protest over reports that a vast US-led surveillance network included a listening post in America's Malaysian embassy.
Malaysia is 'extremely concerned' about the Singapore report, foreign minister Anifah Aman said in a statement.
"If those allegations are eventually proven, it is certainly a serious matter that the government of Malaysia strongly rejects and abhors," he said.
Monday's report in the Sydney Morning Herald said Singapore and South Korea were playing key roles in a "Five Eyes" intelligence network involving the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
It quoted a top-secret US National Security Agency (NSA) map that it said was published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
As a major hub for regional telecommunications traffic, Singapore was an important link in the surveillance network, it said.
The United States is struggling to dampen a global controversy over its eavesdropping activities.
Based on leaks by fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, the revelations have included reports that the NSA monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone and sparked a trans-Atlantic rift.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported earlier this month that a map leaked by Snowden showed 90 US surveillance facilities at diplomatic missions worldwide including in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, sparking anger in some of those countries.
The reports could also spur friction between Singapore and Indonesia. The Indonesians would probably be concerned whether the information is also being shared with Singapore intelligence, besides the Australians.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot has written to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he seeks to repair relations after claims the phones of Indonesia’s leaders were tapped.
Yudhoyono halted cooperation with the Abbott government on asylum seekers and military operations after withdrawing his ambassador from Canberra last week, as tensions between the two countries reached their highest point in 14 years.
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had already summoned the heads of the US and Australian missions earlier in November in protest over reports that a vast US-led surveillance network included a listening post in America's Malaysian embassy.
Malaysia is 'extremely concerned' about the Singapore report, foreign minister Anifah Aman said in a statement.
"If those allegations are eventually proven, it is certainly a serious matter that the government of Malaysia strongly rejects and abhors," he said.
(In a related development, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today Malaysia is ready to share any relevant intelligence with Singapore and there is no need for the island state to spy on the country. "In principle, no other country should be trying to obtains the secrets of another nation," he said. Zahid was responding to foreign news reports that Singapore was helping the United States in its global spying activities. He said Malaysia had already sent a protest note earlier to the US)Singapore's High Commissioner, Ong Keng Yong, confirmed with AFP by phone that he would be visiting the foreign ministry at midday.
Monday's report in the Sydney Morning Herald said Singapore and South Korea were playing key roles in a "Five Eyes" intelligence network involving the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
It quoted a top-secret US National Security Agency (NSA) map that it said was published by Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.
As a major hub for regional telecommunications traffic, Singapore was an important link in the surveillance network, it said.
The United States is struggling to dampen a global controversy over its eavesdropping activities.
Based on leaks by fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden, the revelations have included reports that the NSA monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone and sparked a trans-Atlantic rift.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported earlier this month that a map leaked by Snowden showed 90 US surveillance facilities at diplomatic missions worldwide including in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, sparking anger in some of those countries.
The reports could also spur friction between Singapore and Indonesia. The Indonesians would probably be concerned whether the information is also being shared with Singapore intelligence, besides the Australians.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot has written to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he seeks to repair relations after claims the phones of Indonesia’s leaders were tapped.
Yudhoyono halted cooperation with the Abbott government on asylum seekers and military operations after withdrawing his ambassador from Canberra last week, as tensions between the two countries reached their highest point in 14 years.