Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong celebrated his fourth anniversary on social media by releasing a video clip.
In the video, he shared the first selfie he took with an old Singapore Armed Forces comrade. Among others, the video also captured Mr Lee’s wefie with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Conspicuously missing from the video collage was the wefie he took with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr Najib Razak.
Backstage with @NajibRazak, waiting to join our Commonwealth colleagues for the Opening Ceremony. – LHL #CHOGM pic.twitter.com/jXCWDzZ1R1
— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) November 15, 2013
This was in stark contrast to the pally friendship Mr Lee had with the Malaysian Prime Minister prior.
On Jan 9, PM Lee wished his counterpart across the causeway who had undergone a minor surgery at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital a speedy recovery.
“PM Najib Razak had a minor surgery today to remove a small benign growth on his right hand. Glad to hear that it went well and was successful. Wishing him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him soon. LHL.”
But in February of this year, PM Lee seemed wanting to studiously avoid being photographed with Mr Najib.
Mr Najib is facing allegations of corruption in his country. The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has joined hands with the country’s opposition and civil society in calling for Najib to come clean.
Singapore has a zero tolerance policy for corruption. Perhaps that’s one reason why PM Lee avoided putting his friendship with the leader of Singapore’s nearest neighbour in the spotlight in recent months.