M'sia buys influence through US think-tank Heritage Foundation
Published: Apr 18, 2005 10:01 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Washington-based think-tank Heritage Foundation, which had sung praises of Malaysia in 2001, was once a strong critic of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 'autocratic' rule, said the Washington Post newspaper.
Washington-based think-tank Heritage Foundation, which had sung praises of Malaysia in 2001, was once a strong critic of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 'autocratic' rule, said the Washington Post newspaper.
The think-tank which denounced Mahathir's anti-Semitism, jailing of political opponents and his ant-free market currency controls, sang a different tune four years ago, and among others, financed a trip to Malaysia for US diplomats and their spouses.
It also delivered reports to the US government titled Malaysia: Standing Up for Democracy and US and Malaysia: Ways to Cooperate in Order to Influence Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia.
In a report yesterday, the Washington Post indicated that Heritage Foundation's new tune was sung with cash notes dictating the rhythm.
"Its new, pro-Malaysian outlook emerged at the same time a Hong Kong consulting firm co-founded by Edwin J Feulner - Heritage's president - began representing Malaysian business interests.
"The for-profit firm, called Belle Haven Consultants, retains Feulner's wife, Linda, as a 'senior adviser' and (its) chief operating officer, Ken Sheffer, is the former head of Heritage's Asia office and is still on Heritage's payroll as a US$75,000-a-year consultant," it said.
The paper also claims that a former chief of staff to the House is said to have been hired to help represent the company's Malaysian clients.
Heritage Foundation has also been linked to a network of lobbying firms collecting fees - in excess of US$1 million (RM3.8 million) over two years - from Malaysian business interests.
However, the paper reported that the foundation had defended its activities and the integrity of its extensive work evaluating foreign countries.
Allegation denied
The foundation said it "has and always will call it like we see it. Neither Linda Feulner's work with Belle Haven and Alexander Strategy Group nor Edwin Feulner's relationship with Belle Haven influenced any policy recommendations or analysis."
The newspaper added that the "overlapping work of Heritage and top lobbying firms in support of the Malaysian government and Malaysian business interests is a case study in the largely unseen creation of a favourable climate for a controversial country through careful targeting of Washington elites."
It identifies the countries' close relationship when the 2001 all-expense trip for US diplomats including Tom DeLay - a House leader - brought together a web of business personalities and government representatives.
"At the center of the web is (Edwin) Feulner, a leading conservative who helped (set up) Heritage in 1973. With a US$30 million-plus annual budget, Heritage produces papers and policy statements that have influenced Republican administrations and the Republican congressional majority," added the newspaper.
Washington Post further listed down the contradicting score sheets that the foundation composed over the years.
"Before the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, Malaysia faced major hurdles in its dealings with the United States. Mahathir had trampled on human rights, jailed political opponents and made repeated anti-Semitic comments.
"On a visit to the country, (US) Vice President Al Gore in 1998 pointedly praised government dissidents and walked out of a banquet in protest of Mahathir's policies," stated the report, adding that Feulner had praised Gore then for criticising the Malaysian premier.
In its 1998 paper, Standing Up For Democracy and Economic Reform in Malaysia, a Heritage researcher wrote that the US should be prepared to speak out strongly against Mahathir's actions.
Sept 11 attacks
Washington Post subsequently noted that the Sept 11 attacks opened the door to improved US-Malaysia relations with the Malaysian government offering cooperation to combat terrorism immediately.
The post-attacks period also saw Heritage hosting speeches on US-Malaysia relations - by then deputy premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak - in the US on separate occasions in 2002.
The daily also quoted previous news report where Mahathir made a trip to US in that same year and Feulner hosted a dinner - attended by US foreign policy opinion leaders and other high-powered business and political players - in honour of the former prime minister.
The paper highlights an on-going investigation into Jack Abramoff - a former Republican lobbying powerhouse and closely linked to Tom DeLay and the American International Center (AIC).
Abramoff's former associates have produced documents that claim he has been indirectly paid by the Malaysian government.
The investigation, by the US Justice Department and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, is being conducted on Abramoff's lobbying for Indian tribes. He is said to have instructed the American natives to pay money to the AIC.
Through the investigation, it was discovered that the Embassy of Malaysia gave AIC a cheque for US$300,000 dated March 6, 2002.
Abramoff's former associates, who were not identified by Washington Post, said that AIC was a front created in part to hide Abramoff's representation of Malaysia.
"Neither Abramoff nor his firm (is) registered as a foreign agent. A spokesman for Abramoff's legal team said yesterday he would have no comment on AIC or the money from Malaysia," added the newspaper.
The think-tank which denounced Mahathir's anti-Semitism, jailing of political opponents and his ant-free market currency controls, sang a different tune four years ago, and among others, financed a trip to Malaysia for US diplomats and their spouses.
It also delivered reports to the US government titled Malaysia: Standing Up for Democracy and US and Malaysia: Ways to Cooperate in Order to Influence Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia.
In a report yesterday, the Washington Post indicated that Heritage Foundation's new tune was sung with cash notes dictating the rhythm.
"Its new, pro-Malaysian outlook emerged at the same time a Hong Kong consulting firm co-founded by Edwin J Feulner - Heritage's president - began representing Malaysian business interests. "The for-profit firm, called Belle Haven Consultants, retains Feulner's wife, Linda, as a 'senior adviser' and (its) chief operating officer, Ken Sheffer, is the former head of Heritage's Asia office and is still on Heritage's payroll as a US$75,000-a-year consultant," it said.
The paper also claims that a former chief of staff to the House is said to have been hired to help represent the company's Malaysian clients.
Heritage Foundation has also been linked to a network of lobbying firms collecting fees - in excess of US$1 million (RM3.8 million) over two years - from Malaysian business interests.
However, the paper reported that the foundation had defended its activities and the integrity of its extensive work evaluating foreign countries.
Allegation denied
The foundation said it "has and always will call it like we see it. Neither Linda Feulner's work with Belle Haven and Alexander Strategy Group nor Edwin Feulner's relationship with Belle Haven influenced any policy recommendations or analysis."
The newspaper added that the "overlapping work of Heritage and top lobbying firms in support of the Malaysian government and Malaysian business interests is a case study in the largely unseen creation of a favourable climate for a controversial country through careful targeting of Washington elites."
It identifies the countries' close relationship when the 2001 all-expense trip for US diplomats including Tom DeLay - a House leader - brought together a web of business personalities and government representatives.
"At the center of the web is (Edwin) Feulner, a leading conservative who helped (set up) Heritage in 1973. With a US$30 million-plus annual budget, Heritage produces papers and policy statements that have influenced Republican administrations and the Republican congressional majority," added the newspaper.
Washington Post further listed down the contradicting score sheets that the foundation composed over the years.
"Before the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, Malaysia faced major hurdles in its dealings with the United States. Mahathir had trampled on human rights, jailed political opponents and made repeated anti-Semitic comments.
"On a visit to the country, (US) Vice President Al Gore in 1998 pointedly praised government dissidents and walked out of a banquet in protest of Mahathir's policies," stated the report, adding that Feulner had praised Gore then for criticising the Malaysian premier.
In its 1998 paper, Standing Up For Democracy and Economic Reform in Malaysia, a Heritage researcher wrote that the US should be prepared to speak out strongly against Mahathir's actions.
Sept 11 attacks
Washington Post subsequently noted that the Sept 11 attacks opened the door to improved US-Malaysia relations with the Malaysian government offering cooperation to combat terrorism immediately.
The post-attacks period also saw Heritage hosting speeches on US-Malaysia relations - by then deputy premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak - in the US on separate occasions in 2002.
The daily also quoted previous news report where Mahathir made a trip to US in that same year and Feulner hosted a dinner - attended by US foreign policy opinion leaders and other high-powered business and political players - in honour of the former prime minister. The paper highlights an on-going investigation into Jack Abramoff - a former Republican lobbying powerhouse and closely linked to Tom DeLay and the American International Center (AIC).
Abramoff's former associates have produced documents that claim he has been indirectly paid by the Malaysian government.
The investigation, by the US Justice Department and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, is being conducted on Abramoff's lobbying for Indian tribes. He is said to have instructed the American natives to pay money to the AIC.
Through the investigation, it was discovered that the Embassy of Malaysia gave AIC a cheque for US$300,000 dated March 6, 2002.
Abramoff's former associates, who were not identified by Washington Post, said that AIC was a front created in part to hide Abramoff's representation of Malaysia.
"Neither Abramoff nor his firm (is) registered as a foreign agent. A spokesman for Abramoff's legal team said yesterday he would have no comment on AIC or the money from Malaysia," added the newspaper.
View Comments0