From The South China Morning Post, HK 20th May 2000
Verbal blasts signal tougher line
IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia has signalled a more aggressive foreign policy stance this week with the Prime Minister's fierce attack on his Australian counterpart, John Howard, and the Foreign Minister's criticism of an Indonesian politician.
At the same time, Malaysia's ambassadors in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have been instructed to tell their host governments they should be more sensitive towards issues of special concern to Kuala Lumpur. Indonesia has been warned that a continuing lack of sensitivity could affect relations between Malaysia and Jakarta.
But the diplomatic moves have highlighted strains in ties between Malaysia and its partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Malaysian Government's recurrent status of odd man out within the grouping.
The issue causing most concern to Malaysia is the continuing sympathy shown by foreign governments towards Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister who was sacked in September, 1998, and subsequently arrested, tried and jailed on corruption charges. Anwar, who is currently on trial for sodomy, says he is the victim of a political conspiracy.
In his strong criticism of Mr Howard and Australia, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Prime Minister was not welcome in Malaysia because he thought "his favourite politician" Anwar should not face the law.
Malaysian officials were annoyed by the international publicity given to a visit to Indonesia this week by Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, who met Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly. Mr Rais called on Dr Mahathir to treat Anwar as a political prisoner, declaring that his treatment was uncivilised. He also urged the Malaysian Prime Minister to learn from the examples of former Indonesian president Suharto and ex-Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, who were ousted by popular movements.
The Malaysian Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, responded by describing Mr Rais's statement as inaccurate and offensive to Malaysia and by saying the Indonesian politician clearly did not understand the Asean spirit of non-interference in the internal affairs of a member country.
Mr Wahid was not directly criticised but an unnamed Malaysian diplomat told the Star newspaper that Indonesia's President should realise he was being exploited by Indonesian politicians who did not understand that their actions could undermine Indonesia-Malaysia ties.
Another diplomat reportedly questioned Indonesia's move to allow meetings between its top legislators and Dr Wan Azizah.
"If this continues, it will be difficult for Malaysia to adopt a friendly policy towards Indonesia," he was quoted as saying. He also said Kuala Lumpur's Asean partners should "look at their own backyards" before criticising Malaysia.
Another establishment newspaper, the New Straits Times, continued Dr Mahathir's attack on Mr Howard and Australia in an editorial lambasting Australian "chauvinism over Asia", which it described as barbarous, profoundly dangerous and "inimical to social justice and the region's harmony".