M'sia Quietly Drops 'Pulau' From Pulau Batu Puteh As S'pore Claims Exclusive Economic Zone

From The Straits Times, Singapore

Malaysia has dropped 'Pulau', the Malay term for island, from its name for Pedra Branca.

The Malaysian government, which has always called the island Pulau Batu Puteh, is now calling it just Batu Puteh, reported the Chinese-language paper Oriental Daily News.

Announcing the change at a press conference earlier this week, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said it was doing so as it considered the territory as having failed to meet the internationally recognised criteria for an island, that is, land inhabited by humans that had economic activity.

He told reporters that the Singapore Government wanted to claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around it but said this was not possible because it did not qualify as an island.

In his view, it was a mere granite outcrop devoid of vegetation, water sources and human habitation.

Dr Rais said Malaysia had considered it an island in the past, but decided to abide by international standards after the dispute over it with Singapore was referred to the the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In May, the ICJ had awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but ruled that the South Ledge outcrop belonged to whoever owned the territorial waters it sat in.

Dr Rais said the government will set up a research centre on the South Ledge, which he claimed belonged to Malaysia because of its proximity to Middle Rocks.

He also criticised Singapore's announcement about the EEZ.

'Singapore made the announcement without consulting Malaysia. In any case, Singapore's claim of up to 12 nautical miles of territorial waters as well as an EEZ around Batu Puteh was unreasonable and contrary to international law,' Oriental Daily News quoted him as saying.

***** Another case of Singapore outmaneuvering our foreign ministry mandarins. The problem lies in the sad fact that while Singapore recruits the best talents in its crucial departments, we are still hampered by racial quotas and the promotion of mediocre personnel. What pride can there possibly be in packing these offices with so many Malays if they can't get the job done?

Many stories abound about the government either not hiring top notch non-Malay experts or treating them so shabbily by denying them promotions that they have been forced to leave. We are now merely 'reaping' the effects of the racism our government has been sowing over the past forty years.

"Scrap Malaysian Temples Demolition Plan And Allow Legitimate Protests," Demand British Members Of Parliament

Members of the British parliament have demanded that the Malaysian government scrap plans to demolish Hindu temples and allow legitimate protests against it.

In a strongly worded statement, they have also urged the British government to take up the matter on their behalf and "make the strongest possible representation" to Kuala Lumpur.

The MPs' demand comes after the Malaysian police used force to break up protests by Hindus complaining of decades of neglect and discrimination by the government in Kuala Lumpur.

The police action has been criticised around the world.

"This House notes with grave concern the stated intention of the government of Malaysia to demolish 79 Hindu temples," said the House of Commons Early Day Motion that has been signed by 19 MPs so far.

The MPs called upon their government "to make the strongest possible representations to the Malaysian government, both to cease the programme of demolition, and to allow this legitimate voice of protest to be heard without physical interference."

The EDM was moved on Thursday by Stephen Pound, ruling Labour Party MP for Ealing North, and signed among others by Keith Vaz, the longest-serving Asian MP in Britain, and Ann Cryer, a member of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee.
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Musharraf, Aziz Had Run Proxy War In Kashmir In 1990s: Book

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, commander of 4 Corps (Lahore), Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz, and Chief of General Staff, Gen Mohammed Yusuf, had run the proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1990s, a new book has claimed.

"Musharraf and Aziz had trained together as commandos in the 1960s and, together with Yusuf, had played critical roles in the training of the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s under the tutelage of General Hamid Gul," the book 'Deception: Pakistan, the United States and the Global Nuclear Weapons stated.

"Musharraf, Aziz and Yusuf had run the proxy war in Kashmir in the early 1990s, and Aziz, a Kashmiri by birth, had been on the ground handling Musharraf's disastrous Kargil operation in 1999," the book by investigative journalists Adrian Levy and Catherin Scott-Clark said.

The authors are internationally renowned and award winning investigative journalists who worked as staff writers and foreign correspondents for the 'Sunday Times' before joining the 'Guardian'.

Aziz was so close to Pakistan's sponsored 'jihadi' organizations that when Musharraf had tried to promote him to commander of 10 Corps (Rawalpindi) in October 1999 as a precursor to making him army chief, a job that would have brought him back to the capital, Jamaat-e-Islami and Maulana Fazlur Rahman of the Jamiat Ulema Islam protested, warning it would weaken the 'jihad' in Kashmir.

Musharraf subsequently backed down, the authors said.

Aziz held great influence over Pakistan's president. He persuaded Musharraf against clamping down on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden as a result of the then US President Bill Clinton's visit to Islamabad in 2000 and he also vetoed US demands for action against Pakistan-based activities of outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Aziz was promoted to chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, a position that until then Musharraf had retained for himself.

Yusuf was promoted to vice chief of army staff, the second most important job in the Pakistan army.(DNA)

***** A good example of why the military should be strictly confined to its designated duties and not given a toehold in politics. In that sense our government has done an excellent job.
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British Opposition Leader To Boycott Saudi King's Visit Due To Arms Deal Kickbacks Claims. How About Najib Then?

The acting leader of a British opposition party yesterday said he will boycott a state visit by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to protest the handling of a British investigation into claims that members of the Saudi royal family received kickbacks as part of a massive arms deal.

Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats, Britain's second largest opposition party, said he also wants to protest Saudi Arabia's human rights record by turning down invitations to all the ceremonial events during the king's visit. It begins today and is to include a banquet held by Queen Elizabeth II in his honour at Buckingham Palace.

Britain's Serious Fraud Office had been investigating allegations that members of the Saudi royal family received kickbacks as part of the £43-billion (Dh324 billion) Al Yamamah arms deal negotiated in the 1980s with the UK-based company BAE Systems PLC. (Gulf News)

***** Interestingly our DPM goes in and out of London the way he does from Pekan to Putrajaya. If "receiving kickbacks as part of a massive arms deal" is a criterion which is uniformly and strictly applied by the British opposition then in future the likes of Najib should see his itinerary in the UK being drastically curtailed. Perhaps the hon. Dr Vincent Cable hasn't heard of Najib Tun Razak. But then again Najib isn't exactly in the same league as the Saudi King is he?
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Singapore ‘Leases’ Indian Air Force Base For 5 Years

India on Tuesday signed an agreement with Singapore which will allow the island nation’s air force personnel to train at the Indian Air Force base in Kalaikunda, West Bengal, for the next five years.

Singapore is one of the world’s smallest countries, with its 704 square km territory scattered across 60 islands. The country’s location affords it a great geo-strategic significance. But to take advantage of that, Singapore needs a well-trained military. And India is expected to play a crucial part in fulfilling that demand.

According to Tuesday’s agreement, Singapore Air Force fighters will train at the IAF base at notified times.

Although Singapore has already carried out such training missions in India, New Delhi has never ‘leased’ out its military installations to foreign countries on a long-term basis.

A brief government statement announcing the agreement did not mention the terms of payment.

Defence officials said a deal to train the Singapore Army in select Indian Army bases is being considered.

The agreement to lease Kalaikunda was signed by India’s defence secretary, Vijay Singh, and Singapore’s permanent secretary of defence Chiang Chie Foo. Chiang is leading a delegation to India for the fourth ‘India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue’.

“During the dialogue, both sides expressed the need to intensify cooperation,” the statement said. “The regional security aspect, from Indian and Singaporean perspectives, were discussed.” (DNA)

***** Another brilliant strategic move by the Singaporeans. There is every reason why we should be envious of them and their genius.
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1) IAF
2) SAF

Indonesian Lawmaker: "Use Public Anger At Malaysia To Seek Better Treatment Of Workers"

Indonesia should use the public anger over the alleged assault of a karate referee to remind Malaysian officials and employers to improve their treatment of millions of the country's migrant workers in Malaysia, politicians and observers have said.

Member of the House of Representatives' Commission I on security and international affairs Djoko Susilo urged the government to continue monitoring the progress of the assault case and more importantly abuse cases against Indonesian maids.

"It is important that Malaysia has said sorry. But we should move beyond that by monitoring if Malaysia is keeping its promise to process the perpetrators, while taking concrete action to protect Indonesian citizens there," Djoko, who represents the National Mandate Party, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

After a week of tension, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi offered a formal apology to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by phone Thursday for the alleged assault of an Indonesian karate referee by plainclothes police.

The row started last Friday when karate referee Donald Luther Colopita was in Malaysia to referee at the Asian Karate Championships in Negeri Sembilan state.
Donald claims that four plainclothes police officers jumped out of a van and attacked him while he was on his way to restaurant. He was beaten, handcuffed and taken to a local police station.

The incident sparked protests in Indonesian cities, with some parties urging the government to take strong action against Malaysia.

International law expert at the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana said that wide public anger should warn Malaysia of the need to take seriously the assault case and Indonesian migrant worker abuse cases. "It is an accumulative anger towards Malaysia's ignoring on the problems, including the string of cases where our maids have been abused. If it continues then we will see wider dissatisfaction and anger," he said.

Migrant Care founder Wahyu Susilo said that the incident should prompt the Indonesian government to give more protection to its citizens abroad, especially its migrant workers, while making sure that the Malaysian government speeds up the trials of all employers who are accused of abusing Indonesian maids.

"Indonesia should demand Malaysia propose eliminating an article that rules that it is the Malaysian employers that keep the maids' passports in their bilateral (memorandum of understanding). Migrant workers must keep their own passports so that they can be protected from abuse and arbitrary arrest by police," he said.

Numerous Indonesian migrant workers have died in Malaysia, allegedly at the hands of abusive employers. This year along, 46 Indonesians have died in Malaysia without a clear explanation of the cause of their deaths from police.

Of the approximately 1.5 million Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, more than 300,000 are employed as maids.

While Malaysian officials have claimed the mistreatment of domestic helpers is not widespread, some 1,500 Indonesian maids run away from their employers every month, often because of abuse or dissatisfaction with long working hours, their lack of freedom or unpaid salaries.

Indonesia has complained that the legal process for the abuse cases has been unfair and slow. (The Jakarta Post)

***** On previous occasions when the enforcement authorities trampled on the dignity of foreigners, our government got away with it by sending envoys to China and India to 'clarify' and apologize on the quiet. But this time around the Indonesians have probably decided that enough is enough and it's about time to wake up the sleepy heads in the peninsula. Thus the protests and calls for monitoring the way we handle this and other cases involving their citizens.

Such a situation would not have been allowed to happen if Dr Mahathir were still in power. He would have acted decisively and heads would have rolled by now. Sometimes I miss his leadership.
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Rais Yatim Withdraws From Commonwealth Sec-Gen Race. I Wonder Why

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today announced that he is withdrawing from the contest for the Commonwealth secretary-general's post. He said this was due to his duties and commitments as the chairman of the Main Committee of the Merdeka Celebrations, which limited him from going abroad to lobby for it.

"The responsibilities for this year's Merdeka celebrations being the 50th year of independence are far too heavy and as such does not give me the opportunity to make personal visits abroad to do any lobbying... it is one of the problems I am facing and as such it is not fair for me to say that I want to contest but am unable to campaign like the other candidates," he told Bernama.

"My responsibilities (for the Merdeka celebrations) are far more important and furthermore it is already too late (to campaign)... so it's better that I withdraw," he said. Malaysia had nominated Rais to be a candidate for the post last month. Rais said he had informed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that he was withdrawing from the race and also Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry). He added that Wisma Putra had acknowledged that it understood his predicament.

The election for the post will be held at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, in November. Two other candidates in the fray are India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Kamalesh Sharma and Malta's Foreign Minister, Michael Frendo. The election is being held as the term of office of the current secretary-general, Don McKinnon of New Zealand, ends on March 31, 2008.

***** Flimsy excuse this. Either Rais was forced to stand for the post by the leadership, did not foresee that he would have to be lobbying during the preparation period of the Merdeka celebrations or an honest assessment gave him a rat's ass of a chance of being elected. The latter seems more plausible.

Of late the nation's stock in the international arena has plunged. From an all-time high during the Mahathir years when such a spectacle would have been inconceivable, we have now resorted to sheepishly withdrawing from contests which only a decade ago would have been considered a shoo-in for our candidate. Now we can daresay that even if the candidate from India withdraws and tiny Malta were to be sole challenger, we would still lose.

Who is to take the blame for this debacle? The internet media which has exposed the 'excesses' of the government or those who have committed and are continuing to indulge in such excesses? The blogs for speaking out against injustice or the authorities who have given ample cause for these allegations? How many, apart from Bangladesh and a few genuine Islamic states, would vote for us when we are seen as inching down the Taliban path? Would squeaky clean Singapore say 'aye' to a country perceived as being increasingly corrupt and unfriendly? Would any white member of the Commonwealth vote for a candidate whose country is intolerant of free speech and attempts to muzzle comment and criticism by using outdated and suppressive laws against its own citizens?

In short does Malaysia have the requisite qualifications at this point in time to be an acknowledged leader of the Commonwealth of Nations? You decide.
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Update: No Replacement Candidate For Commonwealth Sec-Gen Post - Syed Hamid.

Do You Think We Harbour Islamic Separatists/Terrorists/Freedom Fighters?

National oil corporation Petronas today denied a news report that it has employed a wanted southern Thai separatist, Sapaeing Basoe, reports Bernama.

"That is not true. We don't employ consultants or any people of that sort. We don't even know him," its president Tan Sri Hassan Marican told reporters here.

The Thai Post newspaper report, among others, claimed that Sapaeing was living comfortably in Malaysia working as Petronas advisor with a salary of about RM10,000 a month.

Thai authorities have accused Sapaeing of being the leader of the National Revolution Front, a separatist group launched more than three decades ago by religious leaders who were told by then Thai strongman Field Marshal Sarit Thanarath to close their pondok or Islamic schools.

***** The regularity with which the name of Malaysia comes up in connection with either supporting or harbouring Muslim separatists and terrorists in the region is somewhat disturbing. Perhaps since we are perceived to be an Islamic nation, the eye of suspicion is on us. If that be so how come Indonesian authorities are spared the ignominy of now and then denying that they are involved in the internal affairs of Muslims citizens of other South-East Asian countries? In the past, our government had been compelled to deny several times of our involvement in the affairs of Thailand and the Philippines and a few months ago DPM Najib had to reassure our neighbours that Malaysia Will Not Compromise With Militant Groups.

As recently as late March this year our Prime Minister had to come out with a denial and rejection of any inference of involvement in the Muslim unrest in Thailand when suspected insurgents detained in a raid in the southern province of Narathiwat were found to be carrying Malaysian currency.

There is no doubt that Singapore too views us as big trouble, as far as Islam and anything related with it is concerned. With Indonesia, Thailand or Philippines they are more worried about clandestine groups from these countries working in cahoots with Singapore Muslims. The equation changes when dealing with security issues involving Malaysia, where covert official involvement from across the causeway can never be ruled out.

Now getting back to the question, what is your opinion? Do you think we harbour Islamic separatists/terrorists/freedom fighters? I personally don't think we do.
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Senators Doubt Singapore's Intentions On IDR

Only yesterday Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the setting up of a special ministerial committee for the Iskandar Development Region after a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in Langkawi. I'm sure the PM and his Cabinet must have got expert advice on the viability and benefits of the move and would not blindly get us involved in a losing deal with the Republic.

Yet as Bernama reports, there are some doubting 'Thom-asses' in the Senate who have to give their two sen worth of misgivings about involving the Singaporeans. One such two sen dolt is Senator Mohd Puad Zarkashi who theorizes that the formation of such a committee would cause Malaysia to be dependent on Singapore to develop the IDR and giving the island republic a lot of avenue to raise several issues that would eventually put Malaysia in a difficult situation, such as on the development of a theme park in the IDR and the proposed Malaysia-Singapore bullet train service. Talk of paranoia!

To be sure, it would be dangerous to expect Singapore to have our best interests at heart. The simple truth is they don't. However if it were a win-win situation as the IDR arrangement seems to be, then there is no reason for them to stir trouble or make things difficult. In their opinion it has been always our country which causes problems, not them! Of course if there were ways that they could maximize their profits they would do it, within the framework of the investment protocol. To expect less would be foolish. Singapore thrives on excellence and practices it to almost perfection.

Foreign Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek rightly pointed out that the question of Malaysia being weak, compromising or giving in to Singapore did not arise as the development of the IDR required the participation of the international community. While rejecting the unfounded Senate allegations against Singapore he said that "the question of Singapore preventing Malaysia in going ahead with these efforts does not arise as both countries could discuss matters that would complement or benefit each other." He further emphasized that the government's move to open up the IDR to foreign investors would not reduce the nationalist spirit or threaten the country's sovereignty.

Earlier related posts:
1) Is The Government Already Backtracking On IDR Assurances?
2) IDR - Are We Seeing A Reversal Of Concessions?
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Update: Singapore Not Dictating On How To Manage IDR, Says Envoy

No Malaysian Interested In Commonwealth Sec-Gen Post

Malaysia has not nominated a candidate for the post of Commonwealth secretary-general so far because none of those approached is interested, the Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.

Foreign Minister Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that among the candidates approached was former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam who turned down the offer because he had too many commitments in the country.

"Several candidates have been identified but all were not interested. That's why for the time being we are not submitting a nomination or looking for other candidates," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur).

However, he added, if there was an interested candidate, Malaysia would negotiate with the other Asian nations not to submit their nominations to ensure that the Malaysian candidate won unopposed.

Lim, who is also opposition leader, wanted to know why Malaysia has not seized the opportunity to send a candidate when it is the Asian countries' turn to be elected to the post.

Replying to Lim's original question, Syed Hamid said the new secretary-general would be elected at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov 23-25.

"According to normal practice accepted by the Commonwealth countries, it's the turn of Asian countries to hold the post of Commonwealth secretary-general this time. In this context, Malaysia has been asked whether it has a candidate or is interested in submitting a candidate for the post.

"But so far, no candidate had expressed interest to contest the post.

"I've also been given to understand that till now no other Asian country has nominated a candidate," he said.

The term of the current secretary-general, Donald C.McKinnon, ends in March next year. (Bernama)

***** Rather surprising isn't it that there is absolutely NO Malaysian interested in the prestigious post! I would have thought that at least a few would have lobbied and fallen over each other to be selected as the nation's choice for secretary-general. Did the realistic Wisma Putra mandarins already know that we probably won't stand a chance of having our man selected for the position? It is also a reasonable assumption that the foreign ministry didn't cast its net wide enough to look for truly excellent candidates and perhaps stuck to some tried and trusted 'old formula' where quota, race and religion would have played a major role. Any other guesses for the disinterest shown?

Malaysia Jealous Of Singapore? "That's A Shallow View," Says Foreign Ministry Official.

The claim by a Singapore member of parliament that Malaysia was jealous of Singapore's progress was a shallow view, the Dewan Rakyat was told Thursday.

Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the claim was unwarranted as Malaysia held to the "Prosper Thy Neighbour" concept in fostering friendly ties with its neighbours.

In line with the concept, Malaysia believed the success and prosperity enjoyed by any neighbouring country was also good for the country, he said.

"As a sovereign nation in a region where the countries are inter-twined and dependent on each other, Malaysia wants its neighbours to succeed and prosper as their prosperity can be shared through spin-offs," he said when replying to Datuk Dr Abdul Rahaman Ismail (BN-Gombak) during question time.

Dr Abdul Rahman had asked the extent of truth to the claim by a Singapore member of parliament that Malaysia was jealous of Singapore and what action the government took to address the claim.

Ahmad Shabery said Malaysia-Singapore bilateral relations were still "haunted" by unsettled issues and historical ties.

Nonetheless, Malaysia still pursued good neighbourliness with its neighbours by maintaining close and friendly bilateral ties with them, he said.

Replying to a supplementary question from the same member, Ahmad Shabery said the negative perception of some Asean countries on their neighbours would not jeopardise efforts to establish an Asean Common Market by 2015.

"We can establish the common market if we are conscious of our respective roles. We believe the reservations of some Asean countries on Singapore will not be an obstacle for us to have friendly ties with any country," he added. (Bernama)

***** I don't know who the Hon. shit stirrer in the Singapore Parliament is, but we need this type of argument and controversy like we need the bird flu. Why don't those who have nothing better to do, spend their destructive free time visiting a monastery in Tibet or go on a fault-finding mission to somewhere far, where their dirty mouth cannot cause unnecessary trouble between nations?

The Foreign Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek should be congratulated for a very calm response. Hopefully no one will play up the Singapore idiot's claims.
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Interesting piece of news reported on April 12 2000 quoting one of our idiots!: Singapore jealous of Malaysia's progress, minister says.

Is Malaysia Covertly Supporting Insurgency In Southern Thailand?

The south of Thailand is burning and it looks like the government in Bangkok does not know how to douse the flames. There is also increasing suspicion that there are dalang outside the country who are clandestinely flaming the communal fire, causing it to rage without control or direction.

There are real fears that the bloody Islamic insurgency could erupt into total war between the major religious communities. The festering insurgency that has already taken more than 2,000 lives could become an all-out sectarian conflict between the Muslim and Buddhist communities.

Drive-by shootings and bombings occur almost daily in Thailand's three Muslim-majority provinces — Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani — and increasingly in the neighboring province of Songkhla. Violence in the south has increased since a military-installed government took power despite pledges from the prime minister to reverse the iron-fisted approach of his predecessor, Thaksin Shinawatra, toppled by a coup in September.

Amid all this killing and maiming comes the news that suspected insurgents detained in a raid in the southern province of Narathiwat early Wednesday morning were found to be carrying Malaysian currency. A total of eleven suspects, eight men and three women were arrested and the security forces seized several weapons and components for making bombs. The finger of suspicion of course was pointing to Malaysia. While Malaysians and even the government may feel sympathy towards the plight of fellow Muslims in the restive South and may have given moral support, there is not a shred of evidence that the government has in any way promoted the insurgency raging there.

It is therefore natural and understandable that our Prime Minister rejected any notion of Malaysian involvement in the conflict there when he said that carrying Malaysian currency need not necessarily mean they are Malaysian citizens.

I personally don't think our government would risk damaging relations with fellow ASEAN member, Thailand and face the international consequences of encouraging insurgency. But who knows? Stranger things have happened in this unpredictable world of ours.
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An interesting read, HERE
Update 4/5/07 : Malaysia says no spillover from unrest in southern Thailand

Anti-Iraq War Protest In KL And FTA Stalemate. Not A Bright Day In US-M'sia Relations.

There have been better days than today in our relations with the United States. Although not extremely friendly even during the best of times at least we have avoided openly clashing with the Americans ever since Pak Lah took office.

However as if to make up for this lull in activity on the political front, a small group of protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in KL this morning to mark the Iraq war's fourth anniversary. About 200 people massed outside the American mission and read out anti-war speeches while holding up banners denouncing Washington's decision to invade Iraq.

The protest here apparently follows widespread demonstrations in Washington and around the globe. Our government opposes the war, and has urged Washington to seek a peaceful resolution to conflicts in the Middle East.

Also today DPM Najib said that we will not bow to pressure from Washington to meet the White House's fast-closing window to push a free trade pact through Congress without amendments. Apparently the U.S. has all but ruled out a successful conclusion by July — when President George W. Bush's fast-track authority expires. The authority allows Bush to submit a trade deal to Congress for a straight up-or-down vote without amendments. Negotiators must conclude a deal by the end of March to allow U.S. lawmakers three months to review it and then vote.

According to Bernama, Najib said "Malaysia is not bound by any timeframe to give a decision on the issues at stake in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the United States. We will study thoroughly every issue being negotiated." He refuted assumptions of Malaysia being pressured by the US to wrap up the FTA talks soon. "No, the US is not pressuring us. Of course, the US would like early resolution but they also understand there are some issues that require a bit of time," he said.

How this FTA impasse is going to end is anybody's guess although some suspect that it probably won't take off at all. That's rather pessimistic though. Certain issues are of course non-negotiable and further progress depends on whether the U.S. wants to understand our concern on these at all. If they practice a little give and take and not posture obstinately on these subjects of concern, then a FTA will be inked in due course. This will be a better alternative than a lose-lose no agreement scenario.

Earlier related post: Window For Malaysia-U.S. Free Trade Pact Closing Fast.
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US Threats To Halt FTA Negotiations - Malaysia Talks Tough. What Now?

Malaysia will maintain its position and sovereignty despite being threatened by the United States (U.S.) to cut off free trade talks with Malaysia over a US$16 billion (RM57.6 billion) energy development deal with Iran.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia acknowledged that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would benefit the country's economy, but to ensure the principles of national sovereignty were protected, the government would not allow America to use the FTA to jeopardise Malaysia's domestic interests.

"We must protect our sovereignty such as (the decision) on purchases (by) the government, among others," he told reporters.

Najib said this in response to a warning by the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, who demanded that US President George W. Bush suspend all FTA negotiations with Malaysia, in protest over the deal signed last month between Malaysia's SKS Group and the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company.

Congressman Tom Lantos, who heads the House of Representatives' top foreign affairs panel, minced no words when he described the Malaysia-Iran deal as "abhorrent". Lantos told a congress hearing he had written to the U.S. trade representative Susan Schwab, calling for suspension of bilateral US-Malaysia talks over a free trade agreement until and unless Kuala Lumpur quit the deal with Iran. Lantos also described the deal as a "disturbing development" over which the Bush administration must act swiftly.

The Iranian oil company and SKS signed the US$16 billion preliminary deal to develop Iran's southern Golshan and Ferdos gas fields and build plants to produce liquefied natural gas, Iranian state television reported on Jan 7.

Meanwhile, the visit by US deputy trade representative Karan Bhatia, who is in Malaysia to negotiate the FTA with the Malaysian government, is being closely monitored by U.S. politicians.

In reaction to U.S. move, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz yesterday said the U.S. had no right to stop Malaysia from having trade deals with any country, even after it had concluded a FTA with the U.S. Rafidah said in retaliation, she was prepared to advise the government to immediately suspend FTA talks with the U.S.

The United States and Malaysia began talks in June last year and have scheduled a fifth round on the proposed free trade agreement this month. U.S. negotiators have been under pressure to reach a deal by the end of March, but difficult issues remain.

The two countries had two-way trade in 2005 of US$44 billion. The United States is Malaysia's biggest trading partner and foreign investor, while Malaysia is the U.S. 10th-largest trading partner.

Najib said the FTA despite its benefits, should not be at the expense of the key national policies. (Bernama)

****** It takes guts to confront the United States and in this instance Malaysia must think of its sovereignty. If we give in now then we have to regularly kowtow to these imperialists. No doubt it is a difficult call for our government. Let us wait and see how this stalemate is resolved.
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UPDATE: Pak Lah Rejects Political Pressure in FTA Negotiations

US Congressman Calls For Suspension Of U.S.-Malaysia FTA Talks.

A lawmaker here has called on the administration of President George W Bush to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia in protest against its energy deal with Iran.

Tom Lantos, the head of the US House of Representatives' top foreign affairs panel, described as 'abhorrent' the US$16 billion deal signed in last month between the state-owned National Iranian Oil Co and Malaysia's SKS Group.

'That is why today I am sending a letter to our trade representative, Susan Schwab, requesting that all negotiations between the US and Malaysia on a free trade agreement be suspended until Malaysia renounces this proposed deal,' Lantos told a Congressional hearing.

The US and Malaysia are preparing for a fifth round of negotiations to frame a free trade agreement before Bush's powers to strike free trade deals expire in June.

In his letter to US Trade Representative Schwab, Lantos said the Malaysia-Iran deal was a 'disturbing development that I believe requires swift action by the administration.'

The US Congress recently extended and strengthened the Iran Sanctions Act, requiring sanctions against companies involved in Iranian energy development 'as is potentially the case here,' Lantos said.

The 25-year deal is to develop the Ferdos and Golshan offshore gas fields in southeastern Iran and establish liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants.

Related report from Bernama: Bhatia's Malaysia Visit Under Close Scrutiny By US Politicians

Thai Law Allows Husbands To Rape Wives, Vice-versa!!

A husband can rape his wife and for the sake of gender equality, the Thai Justice Ministry will allow the wives to rape their husbands, too!

"Don't laugh. That is exactly what the Justice Ministry says in its draft amendment of the law regarding rape," Bangkok Post's Assistant Editor Sanitsuda Ekachai wrote in her column today.

Under the Justice Ministry's draft amendments to the rape and divorce laws which was criticised in the National Legislative Assembly last week, rape and sexual offences will be punishable with a jail term from four to 20 years and a fine of 8,000 to 40,000 bahts, unless it involves marital partners.

Sanitsuda said although the amendments would bring several improvements to the current laws on sexual violence and divorce, continuing to endorse marital rape is totally unacceptable.

The existing law does not protect wives from rape by their husbands while homosexuals don't have protection either as women are defined as the only victims of rape and sexual offence.

The amendment will also protect homosexuals from rape and sexual harassment.

The writer said the laws on divorce and marital compensation support men's sexual promiscuity as it allows the husbands to use adultery as grounds for divorce but not for the wives.

"To sue for divorce, the wife must prove her husband financially supports and publicly honours another woman as wife. Proving the husband's unfaithfulness alone will not suffice," she said.

The draft is the ministry's response to years of pressure from human rights groups to redress gender violence and inequality in Thai law but it ends up being farcical because of the mechanical approach to justice and its refusal to tackle the oppression of women. (D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama)

***** Looks like compared to those dolts we are years ahead. Strange, that despite so much progress women have made in every field and discipline they are still given the short end of the stick when it comes to legislative reforms.
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Malaysia Will Not Compromise With Militant Groups, Says Najib. Will Phillipines And Thailand Be Convinced?

Malaysia will not compromise with militants or extremists and will always be proactive to check these groups' ideologies from spreading in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.

"We are indeed strict in this matter. If we detect groups like Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiah or any other group that is militant or extremist in nature, in other words those who promote violence, we will not compromise, and we will take stern action before they cause any undesirable incidents," he said.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister, was commenting on a foreign agency report quoting Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as seeking support from neighbouring countries to detain Abu Sayyaf members who had fled the southern Philippines.

Najib said the Philippines need not make an official request for Malaysia's support to check the group. "There is no need for an official request. If there are Abu Sayyaf members here, we will nab them," he added.

On yesterday's attack in southern Thailand where three people were killed, Najib advised Malaysians to think twice before deciding to go there. "We have given such advice many times. They know that the situation in southern Thailand is no longer secure. As such, the government cannot guarantee their safety. "Visit areas in Thailand where there are no conflicts," he said. (Bernama)

***** While I have no doubt as to Najib's sincerity in the matter I wonder if it will fully convince the Thais and the Filipinos. We have rightly or wrongly been considered in the past as being a bastion of sorts for Muslims in the region who have been displaced or on the run, for whatever reason. These perhaps may have included terrorists or those who support them. I'm sure that our non-Muslim neighbours must have at times viewed our legitimate actions with a suspicious and perhaps jaundiced eye.
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