RM60 million cost a price S’pore willing to pay

SINGAPORE: The republic will spend about S$20 million (RM60 million) on logistics and security to host the high-profile meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but that is a price Singapore is “willing to pay” for a “very important operation”, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“It cost some money to put up... (But) it is our contribution to an international endeavour that is in our profound interest,” said Lee yesterday.

It was not easy to find a suitable host for the Trump-Jong-un summit and Lee said it “says something about Singapore’s relations with the parties and our standing in the international community.”

“Both sides have to agree, it has to meet their requirements, it has to be politically and diplomatically acceptable to them. Practical arrangements have also to be seen to... So there are not many places to go,” he said.

“Therefore when the two sides asked us to host the meeting, we cannot say no. We have to step up, we are capable of doing it.

“We have to put (in) some resources but we are able to do a good job.”

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday there were “easily 5,000 Home Team officers”, including police and Singapore Civil Defence Force officers, deployed.

Private security firms are also involved.