Given Wisma Putra's poor performance and Anifah Aman's lack of concrete direction on foreign policies, an oppostion MP urges the prime minister to appoint a new man.
GEORGE TOWN: An opposition MP called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to appoint a new man to take charge of the foreign ministry, claiming incumbent Anifah Aman was inept.
DAP’s Bukit Bendera MP, Liew Chin Tong, said Najib should take advantage of the current Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s situation, to revamp his “tired and underperforming Cabinet.”
“The Cabinet reshuffle must include a new foreign minister,” Liew said.
He said that the foreign ministry played a vital role in a government because a nation’s interests were often linked with its handling of affairs with its neighbours and the world.
The leadership know-how that the ministry badly needed to propel the country into the international forefront was sadly lacking under Anifah, he said.
He added that Malaysia’s reactive, not proactive, foreign policies made it an ineffective member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
He said that Wisma Putra was more focused on administrative issues and consular services than implementing policies to fulfil Putrajaya’s foreign goals.
“Diplomatic visits, too, have been a mere formality without clear objectives,” said Liew, who is also the DAP international bureau secretary.
He said Anifah’s inept performance (showed in) forcing Putrajaya to opt for global strategic communications, managed by foreign firms and advisers, as the main foreign agenda,.
‘Breach of ethics’
This was evident when the government paid public relation company Fact Based Communications (FBC) Media to make eight documentaries favouring Malaysia for the BBC.
“It was a breach of ethics,” Liew said.
He accused Anifah of spending more time politicking in Kota Kinabalu or at his Kimanis parliamentary constituency, rather than being in foreign countries promoting constructive international relationships for Malaysia.
At the current parliamentary session, Liew has already prepared three questions for Anifah to clarify since being appointed foreign minister in 2009.
The questions were submitted in the wake of claims made by former diplomat Dennis Ignatius in his column “Wisma Putra adrift in foreign affairs” in English daily, The Star on Feb 9.
Ignatius wrote that “Wisma Putra no longer has the capacity to provide sound strategic advice to the government”.
Given Wisma Putra’s poor performance and Anifah’s lack of concrete direction on foreign policy, Liew said that it was time for Najib to appoint a new foreign minister.
“It’s embarrassing that only in Malaysia, the tourism minister, who is supposed to promote local tourism, has been spending more time overseas than the foreign minister,” he said.
Terpulanglah kepada PM Najib Razak untuk menilai sama ada Anifah Aman akan digantikan dengan orang baru.
ReplyDeleteNajib will do his part to placing right candidate for right position.
DeleteJika kerajaan beranggap Anifah Aman tidak lagi sesuai memegang jawatan tersebut, itu keputusan kerajaan.
ReplyDeleteThere are no basis to the accusations agains Datuk Seri Anifah Aman made by DAP. Inspite of the volatile situation in his constiituency of Kimanis, he is still be able to execute his duties as the Foreign Affairs Minister.
ReplyDeleteDuring the three-day visit by Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman to Ireland, Malaysia and Ireland have expressed a desire to further improve and strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation, and for private sectors from both countries to collaborate in business opportunities and sharing of expertise.
ReplyDeleteOn the home front, the International Art of Table Setting Exhibition held at the National Visual Arts Gallery here recently was not just an exhibition, it also paved the way for better diplomatic relations, at least among the participants from eight foreign embassies located in the capital city.
ReplyDeleteOn the the latest Israeli air strikes on Gaza( that claimed the lives of 18 Palestinians, among them children), Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said it was feared that the irresponsible action of the Zionist regime would result in retaliation which was bound to undermine efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteHe further added, Malaysia calls on the two sides to cease all provocative action and for the international community, particularly the Middle East Quartet (of Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations), to act fast and urge Israel to stop the attacks on Palestine
ReplyDeleteAcording to him, it was most important for the two sides to restore normalcy immediately to avert greater damage to property and loss of lives, particularly among civilians in the Gaza peninsula.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is busy "fencing" his/her position for the coming election. Let the world and PM to jude is he is doing his job or not
ReplyDelete“It’s embarrassing that only in Malaysia, the tourism minister, who is supposed to promote local tourism, has been spending more time overseas than the foreign minister,”
ReplyDeletePasti ada pihak yang mempertikaikan terhadap kerajaan.
bagi saya Anifah adalah seorang Menteri luar yang baik. dia seorang yang berkebolehan dan berani dalam menghadapi apa2 isu. seeprti tindakan berani berdepan dgn perusuh Bersih semasa di London.
ReplyDeleteAnifah seharusnya terus menjadi menteri luar. tapi terpulang pada PM nk buat keputusan.
ReplyDeleteJika dilihat sememangnya Datuk Anifah Aman telah memberikan perkhidmatan yang terbaik kepada semua.
ReplyDeletejudge yourself before you judge other.. and judge your leader in DAP before you judge the leader from BN side..
ReplyDeleteDAP sepatutnya memfokuskan kepada isu2 yang boleh dimanfaatkan oleh rakyat, bukannya yang boleh memberikan manfaat kepada parti politik mereka..
ReplyDelete