PM does not want to be at war with a superpower
09 Apr 2023 09:54am
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (second, left) and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qian (second, right) witnessed the exchange of MoUs recently. - inset from left: Chean Chung, Ahmad Marthada) - FILEPIC
International Relations expert, Professor Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed said, therefore, the perception that Anwar's statement was irresponsible and did not take into account the sovereignity and dignity of the country is untrue.
"In my opinion, the Prime Minister issued that statement because he did not want Malaysia to become an enemy of a superpower like China.
" This is because there is a still a dispute with China regarding the waters of South China sea including the Spratly Islands area.
"If this dispute continues, it will not reach any conclusion, so the Prime Minister considers it better to hold negotiations to create a win-win situation between Malaysia and China," he said when contacted by Sinar on Saturday.
Commenting further, Ahmad Marthada stressed that, in his view, bringing the issue to the negotiation table is the best method because Malaysia would be able to express the country's demands and can maintain good relations with China.
"If we continue to try to fight this dispute, for instance by taking the case to an international court, it would be difficult to come up with an agreement or a solution as a whole, there would be dissatisfaction on China's part as they have also claimed the island and say that they have rights to it
"We also need to remember that it is not only Malaysia that has laid claims on the island, but also Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. So many countries are fighting over the Spratly Islands and this area in the South China Sea," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin regarding the government's openness to negotiate on overlapping claims in the South China Sea has made it seemed like Malaysia wants to create regional tension
PKR Communications Director Lee Chean Chung said Malaysia's willingness to negotiate symbolizes the principle in ensuring ASEAN remains a free and neutral zone.
"This was also mentioned by Muhyiddin himself when he was PM. He said all disputes in the South China Sea need to be dealt with peacefully and constructively.
"So does Muhyiddin's statement mean that we should create regional tension, which affects the security, stability and peace of the country," he said when contacted by Sinar.
It was reported on Friday that Muhyiddin blasted Anwar's "careless" remarks about the South China Sea dispute and said that the Prime Minister statement regarding the matter could indirectly confirm China's claim on the area.
