U.S. ambassador summoned to Malaysia's foreign ministry
U.S. ambassador summoned to Malaysia's foreign ministry
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): The U.S. ambassador to Malaysia was summoned to the foreign ministry Monday for an earful of government reaction to Vice President Al Gore's apparent support for the anti-government movement.
"We reiterated Malaysia's position that Gore's speech was an incitement of lawlessness and not simply a call of democracy as claimed," Foreign Ministry undersecretary for the Americas, John Tenewi Nuek, told the national news agency Bernama.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Chip Barclay described the meeting as "cordial" and "a useful way to exchange views."
Ambassador John Malott "used the occasion to remind (the foreign ministry) that Vice President Gore's speech was neither inflammatory nor disparaging of any country."
Malott said "Malaysians should look beyond attempts to miscast Gore's speech," Barclay said.
In a controversial speech during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last week, Gore praised the "brave people of Malaysia" who have demanded democracy in line with the political reform movement started by jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The comments enraged the Malaysian government. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, commenting on Sunday on Gore's remarks, called them "disrespectful" and "offensive." Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi has said the remarks were tantamount to inciting violence and supporting terrorism.
Since Anwar's sacking in early September and subsequent jailing on corruption charges, dozens of anti-government demonstrations have rocked the usually placid Malaysian capital.
Most have been peaceful, though several have been broken up by water cannons, tear gas and gunfire.
On Friday, Malott defended Gore, saying he only called for democracy and was not inciting people to violence.
The foreign ministry also conveyed to Malott that Malaysians were "shocked" by his own statement that appeared to question democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.
Malott, in an interview with a local newspaper, had said a country could not be called a democracy just because it held elections. Mahathir, now Asia's longest-serving leader, has been in power 17 years.
"Democracy is not simply having elections," Malott said in an interview with The Star daily. "Stalin held elections. Even Hitler held elections. Democracy is a process of allowing all views to be heard, of allowing the competition of ideas."
U.S. Embassy spokesman Barclay said the ambassador's comments were not intended to draw a comparison between Malaysia and any other political regime.
"He was just reaffirming Gore's words that democracy involves a process," Barclay said of Malott's interview.
Nuek told Malott that countries should not comment on the affairs of other nations. "Such an idea will only lead to the law of the jungle in the relation between countries," Nuek said.
Malott said relations between the United States and Malaysia were "much better than (people) think it is." "In the long-term, I have nothing but optimism for our relationship," the U.S. ambassador said.
However, Gore's remarks have triggered a national outcry against the United States. A hot line was hooked up over the weekend for callers to register anti-U.S. sentiments.
An effigy of Gore was burned at a gathering of several hundred people carrying anti-American placards in the northern state of Perlis on Sunday.
Radio blurbs urge people to pick up their free Malaysian mini- flags and many cars and taxis in the capital have placed them on their hoods in a show of Malaysian pride.
Anwar -- Page 13