|
©New Straits Times
(Used by permission)
from Sajahan Abdul Waheed in Singapore
MALAYSIA is doing well in addressing its political issues, Foreign Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said yesterday.
"What is happening in our country is a domestic issue, which we must overcome,"
he added.
Rais was commenting on a statement by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
that Malaysia and Thailand, which held general elections recently, were still
managing unsettled political situations.
Lee said this in his speech at the opening of the 41st Asean Ministerial Meeting
(AMM) at the Shangri-la Hotel.
Rais said Lee's statement was general in nature.
"I believe it is a sincere comment, which we take as a
general view and not in any specific manner. It is not a value judgment."
The AMM is being attended by the 10 Asean member countries, the 10 dialogue
partners -- Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand,
South Korea, Russia and the United States -- and observers from Papua New
Guinea, Timor Leste, North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
On the armed standoff between Thailand and Cambodia over the ancient Preah
Vihear temple, Rais said Asean wanted both countries to exercise restraint in
solving the issue.
"Thailand and Cambodia have stressed that they will abide by their Asean and
international obligations and exert their utmost efforts to find a peaceful
solution to the issue."
On the human rights provision in the Asean Charter, Rais said: "We made it a
specific point that the ambit of the human rights provision must be looked at
carefully.
"(It is) not merely taking the Universal Human Rights Declaration as a whole and
applying it here."
Earlier, Lee in his speech said the Asean Charter, a constitution of sorts for
the Southeast Asian grouping, would be implemented even if not all member
countries ratify it. Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have yet to do so.
The document, which will establish the grouping as a legal body, was drafted by
the Asean Eminent Persons Group at the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu, the
Philippines, last year.
Lee said work would begin on two key areas in the Charter: the dispute
settlement mechanism and the Asean Human Rights body.
 |
News 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 304/2008
In Malaysia, we have new uncertainties almost everyday, or every other day.
Why is this so?
Is this a new formulation by the political leaders to scare away all investors? Which investor would want to invest in a land full of uncertainties?
Tan Peek Guat