Malaysian acquires S'pore citizenship

Malaysian acquires S'pore citizenship

SINGAPORE (AFP): A Malaysian man who planted Singapore's flag
on Mount Everest has been granted Singaporean citizenship, and a
fellow countryman who was on the same team is following in his
footsteps.

"This is a new identity, a new start and a fresh chapter in my
life," Khoo Swee Chiow, 34, told the Straits Times after taking
his oath as a Singaporean citizen on Thursday.

The newspaper said Edwin Siew, 29, another Malaysian national
who together with Khoo planted the Singaporean flag on the
world's highest peak in May 1998, is also applying for
Singaporean citizenship.

The fact that it was two Malaysians who planted the
Singaporean flag on Everest after Singaporean citizens on the
same expedition failed to reach the summit became an emotional
issue here last year.