Okay to seek clarification from China on Aukus pact, says Hadi

 

Abdul Hadi Awang supports move by foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein, saying there is no need to ‘pander to countries across oceans and continents’. (Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: It is reasonable for Malaysia to seek clarification from China first with regard to the new security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in the Indo-Pacific (Aukus), Abdul Hadi Awang said today.

In defending the move by defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, the PAS president said the priority in international relations was to look at the perspective of the countries in the region first rather than “pandering to countries across the oceans and continents”.

“Hishammuddin asking for China’s views on the recent nuclear-powered submarine purchase agreement under Aukus did not mean that Malaysia was choosing sides.

“Instead, it shows that Malaysia is no longer dependent on the West,” he said in a Facebook post.

Hadi said this pact showed the greed of the parties involved by wanting to put the whole world under their control, including placing the Asia-Pacific region under threat from all kinds of weapons of mass destruction.

Therefore, he said countries in the region need to join forces to face this challenge before any disaster takes place in the future.

“Greater cooperation toward peace and reconciliation must take precedence, rather than military cooperation aimed at straining the situation and heating up international relations.

“The experience of direct intervention by powerful countries in Iraq, Afghanistan and several African countries should be a lesson for us to understand their real purpose, which is to only safeguard their own interest,” he said.

Hadi said western countries were also in no way qualified to provide solutions to the problems faced by countries in this region.

“Malaysia has to work towards improving our own capabilities and establish relations with all parties, regardless of the eastern bloc or western bloc.

“We should accept all of the positive aspects and reject any negative as well as extreme policies in international relations,” he added.

Recently, Australia had announced plans to procure several nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus defence arrangement.

Hishammuddin came under fire for proposing an immediate working trip to China to discuss the new security partnership between Aukus.

Calling it “off the mark”, Pakatan Harapan (PH) said the proposal sounded very strange and misplaced, as it gives the impression that Malaysia is taking instructions from China, adding that Malaysia should not be seen choosing sides on the matter.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob raised red flags over Australia’s plans in a phone call with Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, saying the pact was bound to spark a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region. - FMT