Anifah: Pakatan’s meeting with EU reps tarnishes Malaysia’s sovereignty

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has condemned Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders for meeting with European Union (EU) envoys, claiming such a move will adversely affect the nation’s sovereignty and complicate its foreign policies.

In a press statement, Anifah added that the meeting which occurred on January 25 between the top guns in PH led by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and 14 EU ambassadors and three charges de affaires also allegedly invited foreign interference.

“This can interfere with the government’s efforts to protect the nation’s sovereignty including on the palm oil industry which could have a direct impact on hundreds of thousands small time palm oil farmers who rely on this industry for their income.

“Pakatan Harapan’s narrow politics has caused complications to the government’s policies and strategies to protect the public,” said Anifah.

This comes as the EU Parliament decided on January 17 through the Renewable Energy Directive, directing only sustainably-produced palm oil can be imported into the EU market after 2020.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today the government is reviewing the purchase of products from countries in the EU following the latter’s proposal.

Anifah claimed today that during the meeting which took place at the residence of Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Malaysia Maria Castillo Fernández, PH leaders had raised issues pertaining to government administration and requested foreign interference.

“We were told that it wasn’t the intentions of the EU ambassadors to listen to PH’s negative accusations against the government and the PH’s efforts to involve foreign powers was unpatriotic and has tarnished the nation’s honour,” Anifah said.

The minister said Malaysia will not block ambassadors in their international diplomatic relations, but will not hesitate to defend its citizen’s rights and the country’s sovereignty, warning that it may strictly act on foreign parties who break international norms and values.

Anifah also said PH’s efforts was a desperate political move full of hypocrisy as Dr Mahathir was highly critical of the West during his tenure as prime minister.