SAF to resume cooperation with Indonesian army after General’s apology
SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will resume bilateral cooperation and activities with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.
SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will resume bilateral cooperation and activities with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.
Dr Ng’s remarks came a day after TNI Commander-in-Chief General Moeldoko apologised in an interview with Channel NewsAsia for the Indonesian government’s move to name a warship after two convicted marines, Osman Haji Mohammed Ali and Harun Said, who carried out the bombing of MacDonald House along Orchard Road in 1965.
Gen Moeldoko had also reiterated that the Indonesian military meant no ill will and did not intend to stir up emotions in Singapore.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Dr Ng said: “I welcome General Moeldoko’s apology as a constructive gesture to improve bilateral defence ties between our two countries.”
He added: “The SAF will reciprocate Gen Moeldoko’s positive intentions by resuming bilateral cooperation and activities with the TNI, so as to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship that have been built up over many decades.”
Prior to its statement yesterday, MINDEF had not publicly said it would suspend cooperation and activities with TNI.
In February, Dr Ng had said, in reply to Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad, who had asked about MINDEF’s response to the naming, that the KRI Usman Harun would not be allowed to dock in Singapore and the Republic’s navy would not sail with it in joint exercises.