Politics 101 Malaysia

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has decided not to meet with Anwar Ibrahim when the former arrives in Kuala Lumpur this week.

The Australian newspaper said Rudd has decided to avoid a diplomatic row with Malaysia. Rudd will arrive in Malaysia on Thursday on his first visit as prime minister.

He will spend one day in Japan this week for the G8 meeting and then fly directly to Malaysia for an eight-hour visit.

“Rudd opted to stand by existing Malaysian and Australian government protocols and not meet Anwar or the leader of the opposition (PKR president Dr) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” reported the daily.

It added that Rudd had considered meeting Anwar as part of the preparation for his trip.

Quoting a spokesperson for the Australian premier, the daily said that as in the practice of former prime minister John Howard, there would be contact between the foreign minister and the opposition leader in Malaysia.

“The prime minister (Rudd) sought advice last week from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on the political ramifications of meeting Anwar during his visit.

“Outspoken Australian support for Anwar and his wife, Wan Azizah, during his trial and imprisonment (previously), caused serious diplomatic rifts between the two countries, with then prime minister (Dr) Mahathir Mohamad declaring Howard was not welcome at the 1998 APEC meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

“Howard declared the conviction of Anwar to be political and said Malaysia’s judiciary had lost its independence.”

Then foreign minister Alexander Downer met Wan Azizah to offer Australian support in 1998.