10 July, 2008
OPPOSITION leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday accused Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of dumping human rights for realpolitik.
Datuk Seri Anwar said Mr Rudd had turned mute on the issue of human rights in Malaysia since he won office last November, while seeking to engage Asia with proposals for a European Union-style regional grouping and an anti-nuclear weapons body.
'I must say in 1998, he (Rudd) was very supportive,' Mr Anwar told Australian TV.
'Sometimes, they will wait until you are beaten, then they express sympathy,' he said as Mr Rudd visits Malaysia today.
Mr Anwar urged the Australian Prime Minister to push the cause of democracy and rule of law during his visit here.
'I trust Rudd will convey to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to respect the rule of law and stop intimidating opposition politicians.'
Commenting on news reports that the Australian leader had considered meeting Mr Anwar but later decided against it, Mr Anwar said: 'It is okay. I did not make a request to meet Rudd.'
The Australian newspaper had earlier reported that Mr Rudd 'has opted to stand by existing Malaysian and Australian government protocols' and will not meet Mr Anwar or Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The Australian leader, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, carried centre-left Labor to victory over conservative rivals last November, in part on a promise to improve Australia's at- times rocky relations with its Asian neighbours.
In his talks with Datuk Seri Abdullah, Mr Rudd will seek support for both his Asia-Pacific Community idea and Australian aspirations for a two-year rotating United Nations Security Council seat from 2013.
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
No comments:
Post a Comment