PKR MP states 5 reasons why Hishammuddin should apologise to Malaysians

 

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has outlined several reasons why Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein should apologise to Malaysians for supposedly describing China as a "big brother."

Hassan said that Hishammuddin, as a government frontliner who should have protected the country's dignity and sovereignty, had failed in his duty.

He said the Sembrong MP should apologise to Malaysians for five reasons.

"First, didn't Hishammuddin as foreign minister realise that China had many times encroached Malaysian waters in Sarawak which international laws recognise as our territory?

"Secondly, it's impossible for Hishammuddin not to know that China does not recognise the Malaysian exclusive economic zone," Hassan said.

He added that thirdly, Hishammuddin had forgotten that China has claimed most part of the South China Sea as its territory.

"Malaysia is claiming several islands in the South China Sea. How are we going to be respected by China if we are the 'small brother' to 'big brother' China?" he said.

Hishammuddin, he added, had also gone against the non-aligned principle which was agreed to almost 60 years ago by Asian leaders.

"What Hishammuddin said in Beijing recently and reported around the world has gone against the non-aligned principle which Malaysia holds as the foundation of its foreign policy."

Lastly, Hassan reminded Hishammuddin that Asean was incepted around 50 years ago as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan).

Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a media conference

"The Zopfan principle materialised in 1967. Among the pioneers were the three foreign ministers Abdul Razak Hussein (Malaysia), Adam Malik (Indonesia) and Carlos Romulo (the Philippines).

"Hishammuddin shouldn't ruin the Zopfan principle which has for years helped keep South East Asia a peaceful zone," he added.

Hishammuddin had yesterday tweeted that the "big brother" remark did not refer to bilateral relations but to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

He described Wang Yi as someone who is older and more senior to him.

Hishammuddin has just ended his two-day working visit to China. Wang Yi had responded by saying "we are brothers" to Hishammuddin after the latter described China as Malaysia's "big brother" during a media conference.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had urged Hishammuddin to apologise to Malaysians and retract his remark.

Several research academics also expressed concern that Malaysia describing China as a "big brother" would send a strong signal to other major powers and raise questions about the country's foreign policy direction. - Mkini