S'pore Foreign Ministry "deeply disappointed" with attempt to block research funding

The Singapore Government yesterday said it was "deeply disappointed" with two American politicians' attempt to block United States funding to a research institute here.

The politicians, US senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, had introduced legislation to do so on March 14, in the midst of a Singapore investigation into the disputed death of Dr Shane Todd, a former American employee of the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics (IME).

The senators said they wanted no US funds to go to IME until the US Attorney-General could certify that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had full access to all evidence and records relevant to the probe.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "The issue of applying pressure should not arise between countries which have had a long, open and cooperative relationship with each other based on mutual respect... Singapore has made every effort to be open and transparent in both the investigation of Mr Todd's death and the IME's projects."

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.