“Anwar should engage Rushdie, not avoid him”
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng believes Anwar Ibrahim should not avoid the India Today Conclave forum simply because of controversial writer Salman Rushdie.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to pullback from attending the India Today Conclave forum which began in New Delhi yesterday because of controversial writer Salman Rushdie’s presence was ‘unnecessary’.
Making this comment, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said although he agreed that Rushdie had offended the Muslim community in the past, he believed that Anwar should have chosen to use the opportunity to engage Rushdie by posing critical questions.
“And this is my professional opinion although I understand Anwar was trying to avoid a controversy,” said Khoo.
Earlier today, Anwar tweeted his decision not to attend the forum in New Delhi later today in protest against Rushdie, who is also scheduled to speak at the forum.
In January, Anwar courted a controversy when Wall Street Journal quoted the former deputy prime minister of saying that he “supports all effort to protect the security of Israel.”
Although he stopped short of saying that he would open diplomatic ties with the Zionist state, Anwar came under fire from Umno and PAS who called for the former to retract the statement.
Khoo said although he understood Anwar’s predicament, as an intellectual, the opposition leader should be prepared to engage anyone even if the opponent has a different opinion.
“Just because I sit on a forum with Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali doesn’t meant that I support his cause. I believe we can sit and debate issues on a civil manner,” he said.
The problem with Malaysian politics, Khoo added, was that local politicians were more prone to play up foreign issues such as Israel as opposed to internal issues.
“And I think it’s unhealthy for us to do that without understanding the issue in depth,” he said.
Avoiding trouble
On whether Anwar’s withdrawal would dent his image as a reformist, Khoo opined that the international community may think that Malaysia’s democracy is yet to mature.
“But Anwar decision may work in Malaysia as the election is near,” added Khoo.
