Last week was something of a roller coaster in Singapore, as those following the case of Aussie drug trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van may conclude.

Judging from the comments of Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the emotionally charged issue has opened even his eyes to what is a challenging and controversial issue globally.

That the minister felt the need to offer comment in support of his Asean friends is commendable. It upholds the grouping's solidarity in the face of attacks over matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity.