'Nothing wrong to have ties with communist countries'

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan has defended the diplomatic relationship between the Malaysian government and communist countries as it increases trade value which will benefit Malaysian economy and people.

“(Communist leaders such as those in China) now do not colonise other countries. They do not force this country to accept their ideology or demand the people here to topple the legitimate government through undemocratic means.

“(China) is not Israel. We do not support Israel but there is the opposition leader (PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim) who said he will protect that nation’s security as reported by the Wall Street Journal previously,” he was quoted as saying by Malay daily Berita Harian today.

Ahmad was responding to a statement by PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday that alleged that Umno had established relationships with communist parties, either officially or unofficially.   

The dispute over communist influence in local political parties was sparked by Special Branch chief assistant director of the E2(M) national social extremist threat division Mohd Sofian Md Makinuddin who claimed that PAS and DAP were infiltrated by Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist and communists elements respectively.

Both PAS and DAP had rubbished the allegation and pointed out that Umno is the political party that has a close relationship with the communists, including the set-up of a permanent secretariat by Umno Youth to strengthen ties between BN Youth and the Communist Youth League of China (CYL).