KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — Meddling by unnamed foreign powers have left some Muslim nations in disarray, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said when urging Islamic countries to reject such interference and those who invite them.
Speaking at the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia today, Najib cited the fallout from the “Arab Spring” where often violent revolutions have resulted in unintended chaos and administrations worse than the regimes that were replaced.
Among others, he said the revolutions have opened a “Pandora's Box” of sectarian violence, terrorism, and extremism that have claimed thousands of lives.
He said countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia were comparatively peaceful and stable because they have not fallen victim to foreign intervention in their affairs.
“I have always been a proponent of openness to the world and collaboration. But we must insist on respect for our own sovereignty, our own laws, and our own democratically elected governments.
“For we have seen the devastating results of foreign intervention in the Muslim world, often based on incomplete, wrong or partisan information. We must make clear that we reject it. And reject those who, out of political motivation, call for foreign powers to intervene in their own country,” he said in his speech.
The prime minister added that Muslims must be allowed to resolve their internal issues on their own, as they must be responsible for themselves.
Najib's speech comes after the United States' Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a civil lawsuit to recover over US$1 billion (RM4 billion) in assets obtained using funds allegedly misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The American agency described the case as the largest case ever brought by the country’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
Malaysian leaders and authorities have insisted that the case was a “civil” and “private” matter not involving Putrajaya.
Umno Youth vice chief Khairul Azwan Harun last month lodged a police report accusing former Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail, former Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission head Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed of conspiring with the foreign powers to depose Najib.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has also been accused of masterminding the US civil suit, but has since denied involvement.
The WIEF begins in Jakarta today and will end on August 4.
