KL raps Canberra over people-smuggling charge

KL raps Canberra over people-smuggling charge

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar criticized Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Monday for accusing Malaysia of not cooperating in the fight against people smuggling.

Syed Hamid described Howard's allegation as "unreasonable and not based on facts."

"When subject to international criticism, you try to find scapegoats," he told reporters after a luncheon meeting with Singapore's visiting Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Syed Hamid said it was unfair for Howard to point fingers at Malaysia, suggesting Australia should listen to the international community over how to handle the refugee issue and not politicize it.

"This is not an issue for elections. Australia has been a champion of human rights. When things are getting difficult, to just blame other countries, that is not right," he said.

Howard said on Sunday it was up to the United Nations to get tough on nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which allowed people-smugglers to cross their borders.

"People come from Afghanistan and the Middle East, they go through Malaysia -- many of them -- and then they go to Indonesia.

"We do not have the cooperation of countries that should be cooperating," he said.

Howard's remark came as Australia faced international criticism after a Norwegian freighter, the Tampa, picked up 438 (other reports say 433) mainly Afghan refugees when the Indonesian boat carrying them to Australia started to leak.

Australia refused to accept the refugees, who remain on board the Tampa more than a week after being rescued.

Syed Hamid said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer last year expressed Australia's appreciation of Malaysia's cooperation in curbing human smuggling.

"I met the foreign minister last year, who thanked Malaysia for all the assistance it gave to make sure people do not use Malaysia as a country of transit to go to Australia," he said.

Marine police commander Muhamad Muda said on Sunday patrols had been stepped up to prevent foreigners using Malaysia as a stepping stone to entering other countries illegally.

"Human-smuggling out of Malaysia is not a serious problem. The number is small compared to those entering Malaysia illegally. We have stepped up patrols to curb both activities," he said.