Malaysia again condemns Gore's 'reformasi' remark

Comments | Asian Political News, Nov 30, 1998

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 23 Kyodo

Malaysia again condemned U.S. Vice President Al Gore on Monday for his remark a week ago in support of the antigovernment ''reformasi'' (reform) movement, the official news agency Bernama reported. The Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia John Mallot to file the complaint. ''We reiterated Malaysia's position that (Vice President) Gore's speech was an incitement of lawlessness and not simply a call for democracy as claimed, the Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Americas John Tenewi Nuek was quoted as telling Mallot. Nuek told Mallot that Malaysia rejects the idea that ''any country could say anything about another country. Such an idea will only lead to the law of the jungle in the relation between countries.'' In a speech last Monday before Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and hundreds of government and corporate leaders, Gore spoke in support of detained former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his reform movement. ''We hear (calls for reform) today -- right here, right now -- among the brave people of Malaysia,'' Gore said. Ambassador Mallot added fuel to the fire a few days later when in an interview with a local daily he not only defended Gore's remarks but questioned Malaysia's practice of democracy. ''Democracy is not simply having elections. (Former Soviet leader Josef) Stalin held elections. Even (Adolf) Hitler had elections,'' he said. Gore was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit as proxy for President Bill Clinton. The meeting was chaired by Mahathir. Gore's remarks caused an uproar with Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. In a strongly worded statement released the next day, Abdullah said Malaysians would hold the U.S. ''accountable'' for ''any rupture of harmony arising from this irresponsible incitement.'' Since his arrest Sept. 20 on charges of corruption and sodomy, Anwar's supporters have taken to the streets demanding his release and Mahathir's resignation. On several occasions the demonstrations turned violent. Anwar has pleaded innocent to all charges and has insisted that they are part of a conspiracy to stop him from challenging Mahathir's 17-year rule. Anwar has not been granted bail. Malaysia blasted the United States for its interference and the Malaysian public has filled various pro-government dailies with letters attacking the U.S. In one instance on Monday, a Malay daily carried a letter from a reader suggesting that the reform movement could be funded by the U.S. The secretary general to the ruling National Front coalition party, Mohamed Rahmat, said Monday that the reform movement's open support for Gore and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright showed that ''there was a conspiracy to create instability in the country.'' He said that these ''foreign stooges were nothing but out to destroy the country.'' Several anti-U.S. demonstrations have also been staged by the ruling coalition party in the past week. In one instance, an effigy of Gore was burned.