Singapore welcomes Indonesia’s apology over naming of warship

SINGAPORE — Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen has welcomed the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces’ apology over the naming of an Indonesian warship after two marines who carried out the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.

“I welcome General Moeldoko’s apology as a constructive gesture to improve bilateral defence ties between our two countries,” said Dr Ng in a statement today (April 16).

“The SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) will reciprocate General Moeldoko’s positive intentions by resuming bilateral cooperation and activities with the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) so as to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship that has been built up over many decades,” he said.

The apology is the first by a senior Indonesian official. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia that was aired yesterday, Gen Moeldoko said: “I apologise. We have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all.”

The naming of the warship after Usman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said, the marines who carried out the MacDonald House bombing as part of former President Sukarno’s Konfrontasi campaign, had caused a diplomatic row between the two countries. The attack had killed three people were killed and injured 33.