KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s position on the China-Taiwan issue remains consistent and has never changed since the administration of former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He hit back at PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s claim that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks in a recent international media interview had placed the country in a difficult diplomatic position and narrowed its diplomatic space.
Fahmi said the position expressed by the Prime Minister was in line with and consistent with the country’s foreign policy maintained by Wisma Putra for many years.
“(Takiyuddin’s allegation is) not true. I see two things… first, Malaysia’s position on the issue dates back to the time of the late Tun Abdul Razak and our position has never changed.
“The Prime Minister merely stated what is consistent with Wisma Putra’s position. So, there has been no change or difference on this matter,” he told reporters at the Kenduri Rakyat Madani programme here on Saturday (Aug 22).
Expressing disappointment with the opposition party’s stance, Fahmi questioned PAS’ decision to speak out loudly on foreign policy issues while remaining silent on domestic issues involving the interests of Muslims, such as the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report on Tabung Haji.
He said the RCI report had exposed shortcomings and inefficiencies in the management of the institution’s accounts and investments between 2014 and 2017, including losses amounting to millions of ringgit.
“What I regret is… why do certain parties, including our friends from PAS, make so many comments on matters that are far removed from us, but when it comes to matters that are very close to us, including Tabung Haji, we have not heard a word about their position on the damage that occurred, as contained in the Tabung Haji RCI report?
“I hope they can spend more time studying and debating the matter because they walked out of the Dewan Rakyat when the people expected the opposition to debate it,” he said.
According to Fahmi, the efforts being undertaken by the government today are aimed at restoring the important Muslim institution to its proper standing. – Bernama
