Indonesia cautiously welcomes opposing Malaysian leaders

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.