SINGAPORE — Singapore will not join military exercises involving the ship Indonesian warship Usman Harun, or let the warship call at the Republic’s ports and naval bases, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said today (Feb 18) in Parliament.

Having the ship — named after the MacDonald House bombers Osman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said — sail on the high seas would “re-open old wounds” caused by the MacDonald House bomb blast, and undo years of conciliatory actions from both sides, he said.

The ship will always carry “the weight of the dark history of Konfrontasi (Confrontation)”, of lives tragically cut short in vain, and of the suffering and blight futures of its victims, he said.

“Singapore will not allow this military ship named “Usman Harun” to call at our ports and naval bases. It would not be possible for the SAF, as protectors of this nation, to sail alongside or exercise with this ship,” said Dr Ng.

The Defence Minister was responding to Member of Parliament (MP) (Chua Chu Kang GRC) Zaqy Mohamad, who asked about the Government’s response to Indonesian Navy’s decision to name one of its new warships after the Indonesian marines responsible for the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.

Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also answered a similar question by Nee Soon GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak. Mr Shanmugam said that Singapore do not quarrel with Indonesia’s sovereign right to choose their heroes, but Singaporeans in particular the victims and families will regard their bombers actions as criminal.

“A fundamental tenet of our foreign policy is that we deal with other countries — irrespective of size — as sovereign equals, based on mutual respect. Just as Indonesia expects others, including Singapore, to show sensitivity to its concerns, we too expect the same of Indonesia,” he said.

The blast at MacDonald House, which killed three civilians and injured at least 33 more, was set off by during the Confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, which included Singapore back in 1965. The campaign lasted from 1963 to 1965 and targeted non-military installations and civilians, setting off 37 bombs that killed and injured 58 people.