DAP’s Sim sees Zionist practice in Putrajaya

The MP criticises the government's refusal to subject itself to international scrutiny of its human rights record.

PETALING JAYA: An opposition MP has denounced the Foreign Ministry for its defiant response to the European Parliament’s resolution on human rights issues in Malaysia, saying the Najib administration’s refusal to subject itself to international scrutiny makes it no different from Israel’s Zionist regime.

Speaking to FMT last night, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim of DAP said the Foreign Ministry’s appeal to the European Parliament to leave Malaysia alone served only to expose Putrajaya’s hypocrisy.

Last Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution on Malaysia that included a call on the government to withdraw the National Security Council Bill and to repeal the Sedition Act. In response, the Foreign Ministry said Europe should respect Malaysia’s sovereignty and let Putrajaya handle human rights issues in the country on its own.

Sim noted that Prime Minister Najib Razak had often spoken of Malaysia’s aspiration to be a model of moderation for the world and that the government had often called for respect for human rights in Palestine and other countries. But he alleged that Najib’s government was not only restricting human rights in Malaysia but also resisting international scrutiny.

“What is the difference then between Najib’s administration and the Zionist regime when our former opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, was subjected to a trial which was heavily criticised by the international legal fraternity for failing to meet the standards of a fair trial?” he asked.

“Furthermore, people are being abused, harassed, arrested and charged just for participating in peaceful assemblies. No wonder the government refuses to be scrutinised. It fears being exposed as another Zionist regime.”

Sim also alleged that Malaysians did not believe that there was any sincerity in Najib’s international campaign for moderation.

He said speeches on moderation meant nothing until they were translated into practice at home.

“At home, the Najib administration is losing the very moral high ground it seeks to stand on with its chiding of the EU resolution,” he said.

“Today, the EU issues a parliamentary resolution. What if tomorrow it starts to exert economic and political pressure? The government must not take this early friendly warning lightly. Otherwise, in the end Najib will be staying in power at an immense cost that the people will have to bear.”