British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak seen in this picture dated October 30, 2013. On his one-day visit to Malaysia yesterday, Cameron urged Najib to clean up his government. – Reuters file pic, July 31, 2015.
In a one-on-one meeting with the Malaysian prime minister yesterday, Cameron also challenged Najib over the treatment of jailed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“It is right to go ahead with the visit, but nothing should be off the table. We should talk about these issues including the specific ones now.
“I don't think it helps not traveling to a country and turning away. It is better to go and talk about these things,” Cameron was quoted as saying by the UK daily.
The Telegraph reported that in a pointed move, Cameron then met with civil society leaders, including journalists, the G25 group of campaigners and lawyers, who are campaigning for greater democracy and a free press.
The daily also reported that Kim Darroch, Cameron's national security adviser, met with Anwar’s daughter, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah, and they discussed building a free press and her father's treatment.
Cameron’s one-day visit yesterday comes amid a litany of problems surrounding Najib and 1MDB, the state investment vehicle laden with debts of RM42 billion.
The latest being an expose by The Wall Street Journal that some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) ended up in Najib’s personal bank accounts, and a Cabinet reshuffle by Najib which saw the sacking of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, both of whom have been vocal about 1MDB.
The Telegraph reported that the 1MDB scandal overshadowed Cameron’s visit which was designed to build trade ties.
- TMI
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