MALAYSIA VOICES CONCERN OVER US MEDDLING

From Mokhtar Hussain
NEW YORK, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has voiced concern at the United Nations over the recent attempts by the United States to question its national law and administration of justice.

"We could, if we choose to question the legal basis of Guantanamo Bay
detention without trial, but we did not in as much as we do not question societal behaviour in other jurisdictions," Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim said.

Rais was speaking at the 63rd general assembly of the world body here
Saturday, in place of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak who had
earlier cancelled his trip here.

"It needs to be restated -- we have no right to meddle, in any form of
manifestation or under any pretext or circumstances, in the conduct of the
internal affairs of other countries," said Rais.

Washington has warned Malaysia against any "politically-motivated"
investigation or prosecution of Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim,
saying that the rule of law needed to stand above politics.

Anwar, who is People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) adviser, is
currently being charged in court of sodomising a former male aide.

Rais said that certain societal behaviour might be acceptable in one
country or region but not in another, saying, while "same-sex marriage are
acceptable in
California", sodomy is a crime in many Asian countries.

Rais said that democracy in Malaysia remained vibrant and progressive, and
that the rule of law via Parliament remained central to Malaysia's existence as
a sovereign and independent nation.

In his address, Rais also compared the present financial crisis suffered
by the United States to the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

"The troubles of Asian companies then was the result of outside forces,
while the present troubles of US financial companies are entirely of their own
doing.

"It is to be asked, why were the actions taken by the governments of Asia,
in particular that of Malaysia, to save our own companies a decade ago deemed so
wrong while the present bailout of US financial companies are deemed to be
right?" he said.

In Washington, the US Congress and the Bush administration are negotiating
a US$700 billion rescue plan for its ailing financial industry, the largest
bailout since the Great Depression.

The rescue plan would give Washington the power to purchase bad
mortgage-related assets from US financial institutions for the next two years.

To ensure the debacle did not recur, Rais called on the international
community to "check the excesses of the so called `financial wizards' whose
alchemy has resulted in so much suffering".

He said Malaysia supported the view that corporate captains should not sap
their entities by having unbelievably high pay packages.

Rais also urged the Security Council to immediately resolve the problem of
piracy in the international waters in which Malaysia and several other countries
have become victims.

He expressed Malaysia's hope that the littoral states in the Gulf of Aden,
where two Malaysian vessels were hijacked by pirates, would provide the
necessary means to ensure the security of navigation in their waters.

Sixty-five Malaysians and 15 Filipinos onboard both vessels have been held
hostage in Somalia.

Pirates, however, had released the crewmen of one of the ships, MT Munga
Melati 5, according to reports by international wire agencies.

Negotiation continues for the release of crew members of the other vessel,
MT Bunga Melati Dua.

-- BERNAMA