From Wall Street Journal
Recent comments by Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have demonstrated yet again how issues related to Israel continue to divide this majority-Muslim country – and could influence the country’s next national election.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Anwar responded to the question of whether he would open diplomatic ties with Israel by stating his “support” for “efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel,” while at the same time backing the “legitimate rights of the Palestinians.” He stopped short of saying he would establish diplomatic relations between the two states – what he describes as a “tricky” issue – and stated that any change to the status quo would remain contingent on Israel recognizing the aspirations of the Palestinians.
Malaysia is one of three Southeast Asian nations including Indonesia and Brunei that does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, though limited economic ties exist between private companies in both countries.
“Some refuse to recognize the state of Israel,” he said, “but I think our policy should be clear – protect the security [of Israel] but you must be as firm in protecting the legitimate interests of the Palestinians.”
The comments triggered a storm of debate and criticism, with members of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and other groups accusing the leader of abandoning the Palestinian cause – an emotive cause long-supported in the majority-Muslim Southeast Asian nation.
Lawmakers called on Mr. Anwar’s opposition coalition to release an official statement on the issue, while president of the right-wing Malay group Perkasa Ibrahim Ali said he would raise the issue in Parliament.
Mr. Anwar responded by saying he supported a “two-state solution” with Palestine, a policy he said was no different from the official stance adopted by the United Nations and Malaysia itself.
“I am issuing a stern warning to anyone trying to twist my statement just so that they can say that I have betrayed the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” he said in a statement to the press. His party’s stand “is to defend the rights of whoever it is that has been victimised,” the statement said.
Though an ethnically-diverse nation that practices freedom of religion, Malaysia has declared Islam as its state religion and tensions over Israel-Palestine issues often boil over. A large percentage of the country’s population supports the Palestinian cause, and jumped to criticize Israel after it launched raids on Gaza in December 2008 and stormed a flotilla in May 2010 that was carrying activists and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Tensions over the issue are even more on edge now, as Malaysia gears up for its next general election, which must be called by early next year, giving politicians more incentive to argue their views in the press than usual.
“The issue is tied in with Malaysia being an Islamic country,” and the idea that “therefore it should support Palestine,” said James Chin, a professor at the Malaysian branch of Australia’s Monash University. He added the caveat that support for the Palestinians became a much larger issue in Malaysian politics after the era of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has been accused by world leaders of holding anti-Semitic views, which he disputes.
In a statement to the local press, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, a member of the ruling UMNO, disputed Mr. Anwar’s claim that Malaysia’s current policy on Israel is the same as his own. Although Malaysia officially supports a “two-state solution” in settling the Israel-Palestinian conflict, it has also sharply criticized actions taken by Israeli forces in the past, which the foreign minister indicated means Malaysia isn’t supporting “all steps” to protect Israeli security.
“[Anwar’s comments] show a blanket support for anything Israel does,” said Khairy Jamaluddin, the chief of UMNO’s youth wing, who disputed any suggestion Malaysia’s ruling party was trying to politicize the issue ahead of an election. “The issue of Palestine is a top foreign policy priority for my party, it would be an issue during the election year or otherwise… timing doesn’t matter.”
In 2010, Mr. Anwar – who in the past has been described as the face of liberal democracy in Malaysia – found himself on the other side of the argument after he lambasted UMNO for its relationship with a public relations firm called APCO. In Parliament, he said the firm was “controlled by Zionists” and working on behalf of the American government to influence Malaysian government policy – a charge denied by both the government and the public relations firm.
At the time, American-Jewish groups such as B’nai B’rith accused the opposition leader of “anti-Jewish” and “anti-Israel” slanders, and called on American officials to suspend their ties with Mr. Anwar.
Still, many analysts believe the latest kerfuffle is largely electioneering on the part of the ruling coalition, preoccupied with the looming possibility that the next election will be the hardest-fought yet.
“They’re just using it as a weapon to bring (Mr. Anwar) down,” said Mr. Chin at Monash University.
– Celine Fernandez contributed to this article
tangkap laki shahrizat
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Talking things ahead of time to bodohsombong is political suicidal. Where religion is next to commerce in the head of taksub and jumud, one can hear the cheeky pangs from your created enemies despite their so-called ulama status. The Moslems by and large were naturally taksub-prone can only dismissed that was told from quranic nas without further questioning or looking into the subtle wisdom of The Revelation coined elsewhere. And you cannot call them stupid here because they were already stupid hammered by variegated self-declared imams. Whether Mr Anwar’s solution concords with that of Hamas, the word Yahudi have made even an oxonian cahoot blinded- what more the makcik felda! To some observant few Hassan’s attire itself is purely phallic as taught by the Jews! What a disgrace to have a Malay intellectual shouting like quack doctors selling religion in the name of God! But that is the price all Malaysians have to pay. As for The Malays it is not their first paycheck to buy food and faith from the political hood looms. If we suggest Mr Anwar to quote from Socrates or Plato, they may turned big mouthful but if we you happened to quote from Buddha or Hindu, bet ya PR hancussss! Playing with religion is dangerous indeed. Despite being curative, it becomes destructive and the mayhem ironically lies in being a non-anti-Semitic Malaysian! Sorry guys not for the street parlance….
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DR.M.,as usual , had” conveniently forgotten his “close ties” with the US and pro-Jewish lobbyists.”during his reign as PM.Now he accuses Anwar of being a ‘Jewish Sympathiser’
DR/M admitted that, a Zionist lobbyist,was paid US$1.2 million (RM3.7 million) to arrange for ‘ PHOTO-SHOT’ meeting with former US President George. And according to NEWSWEEK article.the Zionist lobbyist was identified as ABRAMOFF who ” collected funds for the Jews in Israel to be used in their fight against the Palestinians.”
Wonder how much of the RM 3.7 million could have been used to buy guns and bullets that could have possibly have been used ‘ in their fight against the Palestinians ‘!
UMNO Youth, to show that they too are a force to reckon with ,came out to claim that Anwar is a Zionist supporter.They too ‘mudah lupa’ that Anwar had pointed out in Parliment that a Public relations firm called APCO,WORLDWIDE ‘controlled by Zionist”,and contracted by Putrajaya,was” responsible for both 1 MALAYSIA and 1 ISRAEL campaign..
With or without diplomatic relations, there are certain areas in which Govts.Political parties,and individuals are bound to have some kind of relationship estabilishd through Sports (Hockey)and Business.for mutual benefits
THERE IS NO VALID REASON TO BE CYNICAL OR HYPOCRITICAL ABOUT IT.
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Dear Mr Anwar Ibrahim, I am a Malaysian citizen and I am very confused with all the charges against you but glad it is over, I hope you will not made the same mistakes again. I admire your
wife and your family that supported you all this time. May Allah blessed them. One honest question
I as a woman of over 50 years old that care for the future of our new generations in our Country.
WILL YOU ABLE TO CHANGE ALL THE RUBBISH THAT IS HAPPENING NOW? If you are the future Prime Minister? I believed that what you have gone through will make you a better person and are able to understand the misleading we are facing now. I am not a good speaker, if I am,I will be sitting
in the Parliament. I believed since we are a Malaysian and are born here, we have a space that
we can voice up.
So I hope you will consider making Malaysia a better country. A GOOD LEADERSHIP
SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST PRIORITY AND NOT MONEY.
BEST WISHES TO YOU
ATIKAH LEE MOOI
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Politicians are welknown to be diplomats and sometimes do things entirely different from an ordinary man in the streets.
Anwar is no different…a skilful and crafty…highly intelligent politician.
In Malaysia we always say….between the two evils…we will support the PR to govern and Anwar be the next PM in the country….for UMNO b not only is evil …but also rouges and thieves..and uses religion to fool his own race too.
UMNO b created by Mahathir is a real devilish party.
And who is Mahathir…an 85 year old..so call .retired PM? He is a snake with two heads. That’s nice enough to describe him….diplomatically by men in the streets.
We have made up our minds..we want change of Govt…and UMNO b is afraid….very afraid…so unusually afraid…so weird..not like politicians…who hope for the best and be prepared to loose like gentlemen ..like cultured politicians.
No..they shout with kris ..and fist held high up…wanting to fight..like mad men…declaring..to lay their lives in the name to defend our country…as if we are like Israel and Palestine.
Malaysians laughing…sometimes be concerned….some do feel upset..but all can see..in the end …it’s shadow fighting acts…it’s hypocrites…acting…emerges the clear personalities of the rouges and thieves afraid to be defeated for the love of their lives…not for country and people.
Meanwhile…Israel…Christianity are on center stage..again and again.
Pigs head threw to a mosque is like intermission time…play act.. and fortunately all Malaysians know Malaysian Chinese love roasted pig heads…expensive food. So that short act..blame in on somebody else…not the Malaysian Chinese.
That’s the type of politics …seen in Malaysia…the so call space age country.
BN is a party with lots of double headed snakes…murderers…idiots…braggarts…one screw loose cannons…half past sixes…sex show performer…expert apple polishers…you name it…they have it.
Anwar is always the main target for Najib and his ministers in their acts..to get rid off.
They feel…without Anwar..their performances..side shows…sure to get Malaysians rushing in to support BN forever and ever.
Israel take center stage now…but Malaysians are just wasting time to see the repeated performance can’t wait to hear Najib announce the date for 13th GE.
His “around the corner” is first class English.
I wonder does he really know what that mean.
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