Malaysia is free to give opinions - Kamarudin

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, with its independent policy that is not influenced by any superpower, is free to give its views and comments on other countries, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.

He said based on that Malaysia would be open to give opinions on actions taken by any country it deemed disagreeable.

“Our relations with the United States is a bilateral relation between two free and independent countries. The United States has its policies and actions. We have our own independent policies that are not influenced by any superpower.

“Thus if there is any action taken by any country that we are not satisfied with we may give our views and comments,” he said when winding up the committee-stage debate on the Supply Bill 2021 for the Foreign Affairs Ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Earlier, Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) when debating the budget for the ministry stressed that Malaysia must have a firm position on multilateral security issues.

“I would like to emphasise that the country’s stand must be firm and that we will not budge and bow to the demands of other countries, particularly regarding issues affecting Kashmir, Palestine and the Rohingyas,” Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi said, adding that those who accused Palestine as being a terrorist country failed to mention that the Jews who had demolished and confiscated the properties belonging to the Palestinians as the terrorists.

Kamarudin said Malaysia's stance on Palestine had not changed, as had been reiterated in various national and international forums.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue of Malaysians who are alleged to be homeless in Singapore, he said only a small number of Malaysians was involved and the ministry was ready to help them.

The 2021 Supply Bill for the Foreign Affairs Ministry was later passed at the committee stage by a majority voice vote after being debated by eight members of parliament, four from each bloc.

-- BERNAMA