KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore's High Commissioner in Malaysia has been summoned by the government for three of the city-state's diplomats presence at a mass demonstration for reform in April. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said he summoned Ong Keng Yong on Friday to explain that “the direct participation of diplomats in the illegal rally is an inappropriate move. “I also stressed to Ong Keng Yong that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not hesitate to take stronger diplomatic actions against diplomats who are found to have stepped beyond the diplomatic norms,” he said in a statement late Friday. The high commissioner argued that deputy Ariel Tan and first secretaries Regina Low and Philomena Aw went in their personal capacities and were not on any official assignment. He said April 28 was a Saturday, and the three members of his mission were free to make use of the weekend to go to the scene. He denied that any had worn a yellow Bersih T-shirt. “Many diplomats from other countries also went to the site of the rally, so why just pick on our three ladies? I am very suspicious of their motives," Ong told reporters. “We enjoy very close relations with Malaysia now and I feel outraged over these allegations," he added. Ong was responding to reports in certain blogs which identified the three women, alleging that they went to the rally to be “actively involved." The blogs stated that this was a clear contravention of ethics under the Vienna Convention. One posting also accused Low of wearing a yellow Bersih T-shirt on that day.
