U.S. INTERFERENCE IN MALAYSIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS EXPECTED - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The Bush administration's interference in Malaysia's internal affairs is no longer surprising as it has been doing that quite often, says Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim.

"On Sept 12, our ambassador in Washington was called by the US State
Department and he met the Acting Secretary Glenn Davis who enquired about the recent arrest of individuals under the Internal Security Act (ISA)," he told reporters after launching a collection of philosophy books published by the Malaysian National Translation Institute, here Sunday night.


In August, the Malaysian ambassador was also called by the US State
Department to explain the second sodomy allegation against opposition People's
Justice Party (PKR) advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

Rais said following the latest episode, Malaysia had told the Americans
about its preventive laws as provided for under Articles 149 and 151 of the
Federal Constitution.

"It must be seen that the ISA is one branch of Malaysian law that
safeguards or ensures national security.

"We've also explained to them that between 1948 and 1960, when the ISA came
about, the preventive measures were already in place, and one must realise that
Malaysia has three main races whose cultural and religious sensitivities must be
protected."

Two individuals still detained under the ISA are blogger and operator of
the Malaysia Today website Raja Petra Kamarudin and MP Teresa Kok. Sin Chew
Daily reporter who was also arrested under the same Act, was however released
Saturday.

Rais said the US understood Malaysian laws but wanted to show that it was
the "policeman of the world" by registering its feelings over such matters with
Malaysia.

He said Malaysia would continue to explain issues to the US and at the same
time would raise certain matters which it needed to with the US.

"One is about the fate of the two Malaysians still held at Guantanamo Bay
who are still not charged and tried.

"We respect the US for its strident voice on human rights but at the same
time it must also look at its own backyard, which is not as good as it is
portrayed."

Rais also said that his ministry planned to summon the US ambassador here
to enquire about what should be done with the two Malaysians at Guantanamo Bay
whose offence was still not known.

On calls for Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin to resign from the
cabinet for his statement on the power transition plan, Rais said cabinet
members should not be asking their colleagues to resign or that action be taken
against them.

"Such calls should be ignored, as the power (to sack a cabinet member) lies
with the prime minister. It is not proper for any of us as minister or cabinet
to make such suggestions as in this case, Muhyiddin was only echoing the voices
of the grassroots.

"The branches at their meetings had made certain proposals, including the
transfer of power be brought forward. Muhyiddin was only conveying their
thoughts and in a democratic country, it should not be the basis for asking
someone to resign. We must respect other people's views."

On Anwar's intention to have a closed-door meeting with Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi, he said it was up to the prime minister.
-- BERNAMA