Stop it, Pak Lah tells Indon media
Published: Apr 18, 2005 10:11 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Indonesian media should stop inciting tensions between Malaysia and the republic and should focus on the diplomatic efforts to resolve the overlapping territorial claims in the Sulawesi waters, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.
The Indonesian media should stop inciting tensions between Malaysia and the republic and should focus on the diplomatic efforts to resolve the overlapping territorial claims in the Sulawesi waters, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.
He said Malaysia wanted the cordial bilateral relations to be maintained and for the claims to be resolved through talks.
"We are hopeful and focus on negotiations which will eventually bring about a solution," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The premier was commenting on a statement by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on Sunday that he was considering suing Indonesian daily Kompas over a report that he had apologised for an incident in the Sulawesi Sea.
On Saturday, Najib had denied having apologised to the Indonesian defence attache in Kuala Lumpur, Colonel Hartind Hazrin, over the grazing of two warships, one from each country, on April 8.
Intention questioned
Commenting on the report, Abdullah said it was "a report that I feel was intended to humiliate Najib".
"Reporting such news may incite their people, and I feel Najib's proposed action was born out of the feeling that he had been embarrassed by Kompas."
Asked what he thought was the intention of the Indonesian media in carrying such news, Abdullah replied: "I do not know of their intention but what has been done has made Najib ready to take action against the newspaper.
"Some of their news reports may give rise to tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia... they should be focusing on the success of negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia...not by writing features that give rise to antagonism."
Asked what advice he had for the media in Indonesia, Abdullah said: "I do not have to advise them; they should know of their responsibilities."
The territorial claims came to the fore when Malaysia's oil giant Petronas awarded oil concessions to Shell in the disputed waters.
This led to widespread demonstrations in Indonesia, with angry mobs torching Malaysian flags. Many quarters have blamed the republic's media for fanning these sentiments.
He said Malaysia wanted the cordial bilateral relations to be maintained and for the claims to be resolved through talks.
"We are hopeful and focus on negotiations which will eventually bring about a solution," he was quoted as saying by Bernama. The premier was commenting on a statement by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak on Sunday that he was considering suing Indonesian daily Kompas over a report that he had apologised for an incident in the Sulawesi Sea.
On Saturday, Najib had denied having apologised to the Indonesian defence attache in Kuala Lumpur, Colonel Hartind Hazrin, over the grazing of two warships, one from each country, on April 8.
Intention questioned
Commenting on the report, Abdullah said it was "a report that I feel was intended to humiliate Najib".
"Reporting such news may incite their people, and I feel Najib's proposed action was born out of the feeling that he had been embarrassed by Kompas."
Asked what he thought was the intention of the Indonesian media in carrying such news, Abdullah replied: "I do not know of their intention but what has been done has made Najib ready to take action against the newspaper.
"Some of their news reports may give rise to tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia... they should be focusing on the success of negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia...not by writing features that give rise to antagonism."
Asked what advice he had for the media in Indonesia, Abdullah said: "I do not have to advise them; they should know of their responsibilities."
The territorial claims came to the fore when Malaysia's oil giant Petronas awarded oil concessions to Shell in the disputed waters.
This led to widespread demonstrations in Indonesia, with angry mobs torching Malaysian flags. Many quarters have blamed the republic's media for fanning these sentiments.
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