Indonesia cautiously welcomes opposing Malaysian leaders
Adianto P. Simamora and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In the past week Indonesia has welcomed two prominent political figures from neighboring Malaysia, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak, and the renown ex-political prisoner and former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, 57, who arrived here on Monday for a five-day visit, has met, among others, with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
As Anwar entered the third day of his visit, the Malaysian deputy prime minister arrived here on Wednesday for a four-day visit aimed at enhancing the Indonesia-Malaysia bilateral relationship. There has been speculation that Najib's visit was aimed at controlling the damage that Anwar's visit might have caused.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has cautioned foreign leaders against meeting Anwar. "Normally, our behavior has been that if a leader of the opposition asks for a meeting, we naturally become more cautious because we have to think of the feelings of the government in power," Badawi said.
Although Anwar used much of his time here criticizing his home country's government for corruption, nepotism and lack of political freedom, Indonesia apparently managed walk a tightrope of both welcoming an opposition leader, and at the same time, officials from the ruling government.
"Anwar's visit is private and I hope that the bilateral relation between Indonesia and Malaysia will not be affected," Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said here on Friday.
Hassan said that the visits from both the deputy prime minister and Anwar could in fact create a better understanding between the two countries.
A similar assurance was also given by Kalla.
The Vice President said that his meeting with Anwar would not touch on political issues or give support to Anwar's cause.
"I have been a good friend (of Anwar) for the past 30 years. This is not a political matter. This is a continuation of the relationship that we built during our college years," Kalla was quoted by Detikcom.
Anwar himself said that his visit to Indonesia was not to build international support for his political comeback in Malaysia. "I will finish my political agenda in Malaysia, not here," he earlier told local media.
Commenting on the visit of the Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar said that he had no problem with it.
Anwar, Malaysia's most famous political prisoner, was released from jail last September after serving six years imprisonment on charges of corruption and sexual misconduct, believed by many to have been fabricated by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in order to end his political career.
Anwar's future political career has been hampered by Malaysian laws that state that convicted criminals may not hold any public office for a period of five years after their release, meaning that he could only run for public office after April 2008.