RI must be cautious in cooperation with Singapore: Observer

"The Ministry of Communications and Informatics (Depkominfo) needs to take a lesson from previous agreements (with Singapore) such as the defense cooperation agreement and the extradition treaty which have been assessed disadvantageous to Indonesia," Anas Urbaningrum, associate chairman of the Democrat Party, said.

He was commenting on the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Depkominfo and Singapore on development of E-Government, E-Commerce, E-Education and E-Business Platform.

Observers and the press in Indonesia have said Singapore had already acquired Indonesian telecommunication companies (Indosat and Telkomsel) and certain banks so that the MoU with Depkomnfo was only further increasing Singapore`s control over Indonesian assets.

Anas who is a former associate chairman of the Indonesian Islamic Students Association (HMI), said all forms of cooperation with foreign countries and international institutions must be based on the national interest.