‘Absurd and novel’: Shanmugam dismisses WP MP’s call to raise issues at Singapore’s meetings with foreign counterparts

“To jump on this Haaretz article, make absurd suggestions on how we conduct and how we should engage in the belief that people won’t understand how inter-ministry conversations really take place, in the complete belief that people will ignore the details of how Singapore conducts its relationships, and try and present the picture that the government is unprincipled and soft on Israel.”

Mr Shanmugam added that it is wrong to try to view Singapore’s international relationships through the prism of race and religion.

Mr Fadli rejected the characterisation that his position was motivated by race and religion.

“This is primarily an issue about how Singapore can uphold its commitments to international law, consistently impartially and objectively,” he said.

He added that Singapore should be raising concerns only when they are “relevant”.

He maintained that in the case of the Israeli meeting, the existence of illegal settlements was relevant as the Haaretz article had named two officials in the Israeli delegation linked to the construction of illegal outposts in the West Bank.

In response, Mr Shanmugam said he could not understand how the issue of settler violence is relevant to MHA’s discussions when Mr Fadli does not know what was discussed between both sides.

“I have said in my speeches that the primary point of international law and approach has got to be enlightened self-interest,” he said.

He added that Mr Fadli should have realised from Mr Shanmugam’s question that his position was “absurd”.

“Instead of that, he walks in further and doubles down,” said Mr Shanmugam.

On whether Singapore requested that the meeting with Israeli officials be kept a secret, Mr Shanmugam said meetings between MHA and its counterparts are almost always kept confidential, except when parties request for them to be made public.

He reiterated that he had given his answer that one party requested that the meeting be made public.