Saifuddin questions reception for Chinese navy, school visit
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah has questioned what he claimed to be the “extraordinary” reception given to two China navy vessels that made a port call in Penang last week.
He also questioned why the Chinese navy personnel were allowed to visit a school.
In a statement today, he said while foreign navy vessels - including from China - making port...
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah has questioned what he claimed to be the “extraordinary” reception given to two China navy vessels that made a port call in Penang last week.
He also asked why the Chinese navy personnel were allowed to visit a school.
In a statement today, he said while foreign navy vessels - including from China - making port calls to Malaysia was not unusual, this recent visit was exceptional.
“Was the Foreign Ministry consulted beforehand? Is this a Defence Ministry decision? Why were they given such a festive and warm welcome?
“Why were they allowed to visit a school? Why was that school chosen?” Saifuddin (above) asked.
He added that the government should be more sensitive to the people’s feelings as China vessels are often reported as encroaching on Malaysian waters in the South China Sea.
The government has also not addressed allegedly untraced entries of China nationals into the country, the former minister claimed.
Goodwill visit
On Oct 5, two Chinese naval vessels, including a naval training ship, docked in Penang as part of a three-day goodwill visit.
Photos from the docking showed that lion dancers welcomed the sailors.
The navy personnel also paid a courtesy call to Penang assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang, who reportedly briefed them on the history, roles, duties, operations, and management of the state legislature.
The Chinese navy cadets visited the Chung Ling Independent High School as well for sports and cultural activities.
On Oct 27, 2022, when Saifuddin was caretaker foreign minister, US navy vessel USS Milius docked in Kota Kinabalu and the sailors visited a school for stateless children in Papar, where they held community building activities and sports.
A social media post criticising the recent Chinese navy visit amid disputes in the South China Sea has been shared on Facebook over 2,000 times, while others have been critical of the navy cadets’ school visit.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, likewise, in a statement today, urged Putrajaya to explain whether the school visit violated national protocols or policies.
He also questioned the relevance of the Chinese navy being briefed about the Penang legislature.
No concern
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy exco member Wong Hon Wai - who represented the state government in receiving the naval guests - previously said it was a significant visit as 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
Yesterday, Wong dismissed criticism over the naval visit, saying it had gone through proper channels and that there was nothing to be concerned about.
“It is just a friendly stopover as the ships are heading to the Indian Ocean.
“As such, the people need not be overly worried about this goodwill visit,” he told the New Straits Times.
Maintaining good ties
In a separate statement, former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy found Saifuddin’s concerns about the Chinese naval visit puzzling.
“While Malaysia may have ongoing maritime disputes with China, these should not prevent us from maintaining good and warm relations with the country.
“In the past, US and other foreign naval vessels have also docked in Malaysian ports without raising concerns from the opposition,” he said.
For the fumdskulls, China is not our enemy. They are our trading partners and have invested heavily in our country. It is very rude and unMalaysian to criticise a friendly visit, whose objective is to strengthen ties between our countries.