Singapore, Indonesia must move beyond ship-naming incident: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE - Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen says Singapore and Indonesia have to find ways to move beyond the incident involving the naming of a new frigate after two marines who bombed MacDonald House in 1965, and to mend and repair ties which have been affected.

Dr Ng was responding to recent clarifications by Indonesia’s armed forces commander General Moeldoko, after the latter had apologised about the incident in an earlier interview with Channel NewsAsia.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Sunday (April 20), Dr Ng said that it’s not productive to get involved in Indonesia’s domestic politics.

He accepted General Moeldoko’s words on camera at face value, as a sign that Indonesia has acknowledged that the incident has stirred up emotions. Dr Ng is confident that if both countries treat each other with mutual respect and regard, they can regain the trust and confidence between the SAF and Indonesian armed forces or TNI.

He understands that some Singaporeans are perplexed and upset over General Moeldoko’s clarification of his initial apology.

Dr Ng said it’s sometimes difficult to understand the ways of others, but as long as Singapore continues to maintain its own stand and others understand it, this will be a strong basis on which to build relations with others. CHANNEL NEWSASIA