DAP lawmaker Syahredzan Johan has slammed a former Singapore nominated MP for making a veiled jab at Malaysia regarding its foreign policy.
This came after Calvin Cheng criticised countries that negotiate with Iran for safe passage for their oil tankers and claimed that Singapore did not adopt such an approach because it “doesn’t negotiate with terrorists”.
In a Facebook post today, Syahredzan said Malaysians do not appreciate “outsiders” like Cheng (above, right) making such comments.
“... his remark about countries that have ‘negotiated safe passage’ but ‘running out of oil next month’ is to me a clear reference to Malaysia, even if he does not mention us by name.
“Let me make this clear: we respect Singapore’s position in this conflict. Each country has different energy needs and uses different ways to overcome the crisis.
“Malaysia, too, will chart its own path for its people. Our government will do what is needed to protect the people of Malaysia, including negotiating for passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” the Bangi MP said.
“Go ahead and support your country’s position. That is your right. But leave us out of it,” he added.
Yesterday, Cheng, who served as a lawmaker in Singapore between 2009 and 2011, shared on Facebook a screenshot of a news article about Singapore refusing to negotiate with Iran for safe passage through the strait.
He accompanied the post with a statement supporting the decision while condemning Iran and other countries that decided to negotiate with the West Asian nation.
‘Iran not a terrorist organisation’
Syahredzan claimed Cheng’s remark had also misrepresented Singapore’s position on the issue.
According to the DAP leader, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan - who was quoted in the article - did not say that the republic refused to negotiate because Singapore doesn’t negotiate with terrorists.
“Iran is a sovereign state, not a terrorist organisation.
“All countries that negotiated for safe passage through the strait do so with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the state, and this, of course, includes Malaysia. Not some organisation or body, but the state itself.
“With this sort of callous remarks and his previous statements, it is no wonder he has been accused of Islamophobia,” said Syahredzan, referring to a controversy last year following a remark that Cheng made about the Israel-Palestine conflict. - Mkini
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