# ‘Absurd and novel’: Shanmugam dismisses WP MP’s call to raise issues at Singapore’s meetings with foreign counterparts

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/absurd-and-novel-shanmugam-dismisses-wp-mps-call-to-raise-issues-at-singapores-meetings-with-foreign-counterparts/
- Published: 2026-11-04T08:55:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T03:11:16+00:00
- Original publisher: CNA (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/k-shanmugam-fadli-fawzi-international-law-bilateral-meetings-parliament-6522351
- Topics: Middle East, World

## Key points

- Shanmugam rejected calls for ministries to raise broad issues at every foreign meeting.
- Fadli said relevant concerns should be raised consistently with all countries.
- The dispute followed questions about a September meeting with Israeli officials.

## Summary

Senior Minister K Shanmugam rejected Workers’ Party MP Fadli Fawzi’s suggestion that Singapore officials should have raised concerns about Israeli settlements and settler violence during a meeting with Israeli counterparts. Shanmugam argued that requiring every ministry to raise international law issues at its meetings would be an absurd way to conduct foreign relations.

Fadli said concerns should be raised when relevant to Singapore’s commitments and interests, and denied that his position was motivated by race or religion. The debate followed questions about a reported September visit by Israeli security officials, which the Home Affairs Ministry said was confidential; it disputed a report that the death penalty was discussed and explained why it had not issued a correction order under Singapore’s online falsehoods law. Shanmugam said the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Cabinet set Singapore’s overall stance, while each ministry handles matters relevant to its work.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.