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.