PKR has rubbished Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim's claim that it was out to smear Malaysia in its tour of Australia, ahead of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case.
 
PKR Youth information chief Lee Chean Chung said the allegation was "baseless" and the party's entourage down south was intended to discuss current affairs including the Sedition Act, extremism as well as Anwar's sodomy verdict on Oct 28.

Apart from Lee, the entourage among others, comprised of Rafizi Ramli (Pandan MP), Darrell Leiking (Penampang MP), Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru MP) and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Seri Setia state assemblyperson). They were in Australia from Oct 18 until Oct 22.
 
Lee (left), who is also Semambu state assemblyperson, added the fact that Shahidan was trying to bad mouth the entourage, showed he is mindful the persecution of Anwar as well as the use of the Sedition Act would hurt Malaysia's relations with the international community.
 
"Malaysia will not be embarrassed by a working visit by elected representatives and political parties.
 
"Malaysia will only be embarrassed by selective prosecution, an eroded judiciary system, human rights and the people's freedom that are under threat, as well as racial and religious radicalism," he said in a statement.
 
He added these issues are critical especially after Malaysia was elected as a non-permanent member of the United National Security Council and will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year.
 
"The fact that the entourage was greeted by Australia Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, Senate deputy president Gavin Marshall and several other MPs, showed they care about our presence and view the issues discussed seriously," he asserted.


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