US President Barack Obama said his decision to not meeting opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim during the former's trip to Kuala Lumpur does not indicate that the US is not concerned about the latter's situation.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today, Obama said this when asked why he had not made any comment on Anwar's sodomy conviction, which the US had once claimed was politically motivated.
"The fact that I haven't met with Mr Anwar is not indicative of a lack of concern, given the fact that there are a lot of people I don’t meet with and opposition leaders that I don’t meet with and that doesn’t mean that I’m not concerned about them," he said, according to the White House transcript.
Malaysiakini was not invited to the press conference.
Although Obama has snubbed Anwar, US national security adviser Susan Rice is expected to meet Anwar soon.
Najib and Obama leaders held the joint press conference after bilateral talks in Putrajaya this morning.
Najib: It's not the government vs Anwar
On the subject of human rights in Malaysia, Obama said: "Malaysia still has some work to do on human rights issues, just like the US does... I commit to ensuring issues raised in constructive way."
He added that he had shared with Najib his "core belief" that societies that respect civil rights will be more successful in the 21st century.
Obama is on a two day visit in Malaysia following stops in Japan and South Korea. He is headed for the Philippines next.
During the same press conference, Najib stressed that Anwar's sodomy conviction was not a case of "the government against him".
"It is an action taken by an individual, who happens to be his former employee, who has taken up a case against him.
"Under the eyes of the law. even if you are a small man or a big man you have equal justice. We believe in that principle.
"Now that the matter is before the courts, it is not right for me to comment anything more than that," he said.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today, Obama said this when asked why he had not made any comment on Anwar's sodomy conviction, which the US had once claimed was politically motivated.
"The fact that I haven't met with Mr Anwar is not indicative of a lack of concern, given the fact that there are a lot of people I don’t meet with and opposition leaders that I don’t meet with and that doesn’t mean that I’m not concerned about them," he said, according to the White House transcript.
Malaysiakini was not invited to the press conference.
Previously, PKR leaders had said that Obama should meet Anwar in recognition of the fact that Pakatan Rakyat obtained 52 percent of the popular vote during the last general election and that the Sodomy II conviction was politically motivated.
Although Obama has snubbed Anwar, US national security adviser Susan Rice is expected to meet Anwar soon.
Najib and Obama leaders held the joint press conference after bilateral talks in Putrajaya this morning.
Najib: It's not the government vs Anwar
On the subject of human rights in Malaysia, Obama said: "Malaysia still has some work to do on human rights issues, just like the US does... I commit to ensuring issues raised in constructive way."
He added that he had shared with Najib his "core belief" that societies that respect civil rights will be more successful in the 21st century.
Obama is on a two day visit in Malaysia following stops in Japan and South Korea. He is headed for the Philippines next.
During the same press conference, Najib stressed that Anwar's sodomy conviction was not a case of "the government against him".
"It is an action taken by an individual, who happens to be his former employee, who has taken up a case against him.
"Under the eyes of the law. even if you are a small man or a big man you have equal justice. We believe in that principle.
"Now that the matter is before the courts, it is not right for me to comment anything more than that," he said.
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