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