“It was TunM who pioneered, nurtured Malaysian-Iranian diplomacy,” Madani backers reminded

 

THAT Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai has credited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s for his relentless phone-call diplomacy having achieved strategic significant with Iran allowing Malaysian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz has earned rebukes from loyalists of twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

As Madani critics cheekily wondered if this “toll-free access” would make any difference given fuel prices especially unsubsidised diesel has continued to spike to a record high of RM6.02/litre, a commenter has reacted to the former Star Media Group’s group chief editor’s opinion with a well-worded remark.

“I tell you this. Diplomacy is not made in one day,” one Roslinda AG reacted to Wong’s opinion on the Facebook page of infotainment portal Siakap Keli.

“It’s a long journey of trust and relationship built over time and time between leaders who’re willing to defy all odds in the name of ties. And definitely not due to one overblown phone call.”

Another commenter who apologised for his bad English even took the pain to second Roslinda AG’s hint as to how Dr Mahathir has been eclipsed from the credit line when he was instrumental in pioneering Malaysia’s diplomacy with Iran in the 1980s.

“Some M’sian know … In 80s, one person with a good personality help Iran when Iran in trouble [sic],” he echoed.

“After war, only this person want to help. From that time, Iran was fall in love with him. And now Iran proof the love [sic].”

This is when few loyalists of Dr Mahathir jibed PMX as “the real master of claim” by “stealing the credit” away from their centenarian statesman.

As one commenter aptly put it, it is inevitable that PMX gets to reap the credit given he is the current head of government although his personal tribute went to Dr Mahathir and even PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang “who made an appearance at the ulama conference in Iran in December 2016”.

Interestingly, some commenters even painted the picture of PMX as a “newbie” in the Malaysian-Iran diplomatic sphere.

Middle way

In fact, the claim of Dr Mahathir’s loyalists has been validated by global geopolitical nerd Hisyam Danial who revealed that when Western countries imposed economic sanction on Iran after the Iran-Iraq war ended in August 1988, Iran’s financial reserves plummeted with food supply to Iranians severely affected.

“When everyone turned their backs, Tun Mahathir made a bold decision,” he recounted based on research of past documents.

“Malaysia sent large quantities of palm oil to Iran through a direct bilateral financial agreement between both countries without relying on the US dollar system that the West was using at the time to block Iran.”

But to pacify both the Madani and opposition-slant factions as to who between PMX and his dubbed mentor deserve credit for securing the ‘priceless’ Strait of Hormuz passage, perhaps the Kuala Terengganu-hailed digital creator has played a smart diplomatic card:

“Even when tensions in the Gulf escalated with Iran beginning to list which countries could and couldn’t pass through (the Strait of Hormuz), Malaysia already has its capital invested,” he summed up.

“Capital that Tunku Abdul Rahman had planted (in 1968). Capital that Tun had built up over 22 years from sending troops to guard Iran’s border to sending food when the world was boycotting them. Capital that Anwar has maintained and increased in the last three years.” –  Focus Malaysia