Anifah tells Khairy not to look for cheap publicity
(The Malaysian Insider) – Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman slammed Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin today for seeking cheap publicity in demanding that Malaysia recall its ambassador from Jakarta.
He said that Malaysia had no plans to resort to such a drastic step because it would worsen the situation.
“Recalling the ambassador is the last resort before we sever ties between both countries. I am not sure Khairy knows this.
“He may be someone who is smart but it does not mean he is wise,” said Anifah.
Yesterday Khairy piled on more pressure on the foreign ministry to immediately solve the on-going attacks by Indonesian groups on the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta by urging an immediate recall of Malaysia’s envoy.
According to Khairy, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had failed to address the actual issue of attacks on the Malaysian embassy during his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Marty Natalegawa, on September 6.
He further claimed that since bilateral talks were not working, the “strongest form of message” that should be sent would be to recall the Malaysian ambassador in Jakarta.
Khairy has been vocal in criticising the foreign ministry for what he terms its failures to address the attacks on the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta by the small but vocal Nationalist People’s Bastion for Democracy (Bendera) group.
Bendera gained notoriety after throwing faeces at the Malaysian embassy during protests there.
The group’s outburst was triggered by the Malaysian authorities’ detention of three Indonesian maritime officers in disputed waters near Riau island on August 13.
The Indonesian Marine and Fisheries Ministry had also recently detained seven Malaysian fishermen. All parties were detained for alleged encroachment.
Although all detainees were released on August 17, Indonesians continued to show their anger at Malaysia by staging demonstrations and pressuring the Indonesian government to adopt a firm attitude towards Malaysia on territorial and border disputes.
Since then, security at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta has been tightened. Attacks, however, have not stopped.
In rebuffing Khairy today, Anifah described the Umno Youth chief as a young man who had still a lot to learn about diplomacy.
Anifah said that the demonstrations in Jakarta were not a true reflection of the sentiments of all Indonesians.
The minister also pointed out that there had been no incidents since Tuesday.
