Zahid distances gov't from Zam's views

The views of former information minister Zainuddin Maidin or Zam on two former Indonesian presidents, BJ Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) in his article, were not the Malaysian
government’s nor its ruling party’s stand, said Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the Malaysian government and the ruling party also did not support Zam’s views in his writings which were posted on his blog.

“His statement was personal; Zainuddin is not a Malaysian cabinet minister now and neither is he in the ruling party’s top leadership, and was a former editor-in-chief of a newspaper in Malaysia when he was appointed as information minister.

“This means Zainuddin’s views (on Habibie and Gus Dur) were 100 percent personal,” he said at a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro after the 39th General Border Committee Meeting in Jakarta.

Ahmad Zahid said he understood the feelings of the Indonesian public, especially the media and Indonesian cabinet ministers and other politicians, over Zainuddin’s articles.

“I hope the Indonesian people are able to differentiate between personal views and that of the Malaysian government and ruling party, which don’t agree with his (Zainuddin) opinions on the subject matter,” he said.

Since Zainuddin’s controversial article which criticised Habibie appeared on Utusan Malaysia’s news portal and lately against Gus Dur, on his blog, his views  have been much discussed by the Indonesian media.

Many quarters are especially angry over the criticism by Zainuddin against Habibie.

- Bernama