Anifah: Saifuddin bungled handling of diplomats, 'major embarassment'

 

Former foreign affairs minister Anifah Aman believes that incumbent Saifuddin Abdullah should have handled the situation involving two senior Malaysian diplomats much better and that the whole episode reflected badly on the country.

In a statement today, Anifah said that as a minister, Saifuddin should have taken full responsibility for the situation which led to the recall of Malaysia’s ambassador to UAE Tarid Sufian and consul-general in Dubai, Hasril Abdul Hamid.

The pair were recalled over an alleged failure to coordinate administrative and logistical affairs related to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s visit to the Emirates last month, particularly during his arrival on March 29.

“These failures include the prime minister’s lengthy wait at the normal arrival hall for passport clearance.

“Aside from that, (media) coverage and security details, as well as motorcades usually prepared for the prime minister as per standard procedure were also not provided,” said the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Anifah (above) said he would have handled the situation differently and would have urged an internal investigation to be carried out first.

“Even though Wisma Putra has issued a statement that such a recall was nothing out of the ordinary due to their failure to coordinate administrative and logistic matters during the prime minister’s visit to the UAE, they should not have been recalled in haste,” he said.

He added that normally, prior to an official visit by the prime minister to a foreign country, thorough preparations involving the foreign minister would have to be made.

Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah

“This is a major embarrassment for our country, and a minister is always responsible for any shortcomings of the ministry, and he must defend his officers.

“I have my doubts that such senior and experienced diplomats would overlook important details especially when it involves our prime minister,” he said.

Country will be deemed incapable

Anifah, who is also the Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president, said such hasty action in recalling the diplomats would reflect badly on the nation as it would be deemed incapable of organising something as common as a visit of a head of government.

"The officers in Wisma Putra are all experienced and those selected to be heads of missions are usually top diplomats and have years of experience under their belts.

“Incidents like this rarely happen and even if it did happen, it could have been prevented had the foreign minister been in the UAE beforehand to personally oversee the preparations for the prime minister’s visit.

“Being there beforehand is part of the job of a foreign minister and if he failed to be there, he should not have agreed to or ordered the recall of the two diplomats,” Anifah said. - Mkini