KUALA LUMPUR: Three Singapore High Commission officials who attended the Bersih 3.0 rally did not go there to support the protesters, High Commissioner Ong Keng Yong said.

He explained that the three his deputy Ariel Tan and first secretaries (political) Regina Low and Philomena Aw went in their personal capacities and were not on any official assignment.

He said April 28 being a Saturday, 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.

“We enjoy very close relations with Malaysia now and I feel outraged over these allegations,'' he told The Star.

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.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had, during a luncheon with Asean heads of mission on June 11, told them that he received reports about the involvement of foreign diplomats in street demonstrations, citing the Bersih rally.

He expressed concern that the diplomats concerned could have got involved or injured in unfortunate incidents.

Ong, a former Asean secretary-general, said he took Anifah's comments and advice in good faith.

“As the Foreign Minister, he was giving his views. It was not directed at the Asean ambassadors only as he was also meeting with other groups of ambassadors,'' he added.

Ong pointed out that his Government had rejected a request to hold a Bersih rally in the republic.

He also rejected allegations that there was a Singapore group which was interfering in Malaysia's political scene via social networking sites, adding that those involved were actually Malaysians working and living in Singapore.

• MMHE Q1 earnings down 35% to RM50.59m
• KLCI closes a shade below record high
• AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
• EPF invests additional US$1.3b overseas
• MIDA: Investments up 44% on-year to RM49.3b in Q1
• Prague metro plans to launch love train for singles
• iGate sacks chief executive Murthy after sexual harassment probe
• Eversendai Q1 earnings slip 13.1% to RM23.68m on timing differences
• US asks judge to deny S&P's motion to dismiss fraud lawsuit
• Perdana Petroleum bidding for over RM1b contracts
• IOI Corp Q3 earnings up just 2.8% to RM567.8m (Update)
• Tenaga lifts KLCI, property stocks in focus (Update)
• CIMB maintains outperform on UMW Holdings
• Yahoo's rise in Asia offsets risk from Tumblr bet
• Asia Brands up, Kenanga Research has Outperform

• 6.0 quake off Russia's far-east Kamchatka coastline: USGS
• Death toll rises to 21 in Indonesian mine collapse
• Dozens dead as tornado hits Oklahoma City (Updated)
• No new H7N9 cases in China for a week: government
• Villagers discover ancient ball game statue in Mexico
• British PM survives gay marriage vote
• Kerry to help ink $2.1 bn defense accord with Oman
• Yahoo unveils makeover of flickr site

• Former Asian phenom takes slow route to success
• Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
• Yi Ting on a mission
• Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
• Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
• Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
• Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
• KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
• Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
• Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
• Andre nails it with last jump
• Grace hammers home a point with two golds
• Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
• Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future
• Nadal and Williams are looking unbeatable leaving rivals stunned

• Please wait.

• Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
• Malindo set to operate from Subang Skypark
• MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
• Coconut yogurt anyone?
• Plaza Rakyat may be revived
• The best ways to national unity
• ‘Boycott will be self-defeating’
• Not taken for a good ride and not ungrateful
• Court: Sosma not applicable to Yazid and two others
• AirAsia: Child not allowed on board because of chicken pox