Ministry to summon German Ambassador over Suaram funding

(The Star) – The Foreign Ministry will summon the German Ambassador to Malaysia for clarification on the involvement of the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in providing funds to Suaram.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said in a statement that the embassy’s action could be viewed as interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state.

“Malaysia takes exception to the embassy in funding an NGO that is known to have a certain political agenda.

“Foreign embassies have to be mindful of the sensitivities of the host country in general and the way good relations are conducted and maintained,” he said in a statement.

The embassy had two days ago admitted to funding a Suaram project, and maintained that it supported Suaram as a human rights organisation “without any political background”.

Suaram faced allegations of misused funds and questions over its NGO status after initial findings by the Companies Commission of Malaysia had revealed “highly suspicious” transactions between trading company Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd and Suaram.