Anifah: Dr M’s meeting with EU envoys ‘most unpatriotic’

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman slams Pakatan Harapan for indirectly inviting foreigners to meddle in country's affairs.

GEORGE TOWN: Foreign Minister Anifah Aman has accused Pakatan Harapan (PH) of tarnishing Malaysia’s image by raising negative issues at a meeting with European Union envoys recently.

Describing PH’s actions as “most unpatriotic”, the minister said it was a precursor to having foreigners meddle in the country’s affairs.

On Friday, Mahathir spent two hours with EU ambassadors, led by Maria Castillo Fernandez, the ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Malaysia.

Anifah said there was nothing diplomatic in the visit by Dr Mahathir and his entourage of PH leaders. It was merely to embarrass Malaysia by raising issues that could tarnish the country’s image.

He said PH’s meeting with the EU delegation was a sign of “desperate politics” by the opposition, especially by Mahathir who was willing to do anything to be in power again.

“This is hypocrisy, which is the core of Mahathir’s politics, where he is ever willing to put aside the interests of the country and its people for the sake of power.

“When he was PM, he was highly critical of Western countries… but his visit (to the EU delegation), together with PH leaders, must be judged by the people on who is actually defending the rights, dignity and sovereignty of the country,” Anifah said in a statement.

He said PH’s meeting with the EU delegation had further muddied the country’s diplomatic strategies while it was trying to lobby EU nations over Malaysia’s export of palm oil so that the income of smallholders nationwide would not be affected.

The European Union Environment Committee had voted to ban the use of palm oil in biodiesel in October 2017.

This was endorsed by the EU Industrial, Research and Energy Committee a month later.

The European Parliament is expected to cast its votes on the matter soon.

Malaysia had said it would ban imports of European products in retaliation for a ban on palm oil.

“At a time when Malaysia’s economy is going great and the country is gaining recognition and respect throughout the world, Pakatan Harapan has invited the involvement of foreign countries in our affairs,” Anifah said.

Hr said while Malaysia would not stop envoys conducting diplomatic work in the country, it would not hesitate to take action on those who went “beyond the norms and values” set by the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic affairs. -FMT