SHAH ALAM, 12 Dec: The statement by the Former Information Minister, Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin that attacked the former Indonesian President, BJ Habibie, is racist and does not represent the opinion of the masses.
PKR Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Zainuddin is arrogant and racist which is one of the causes of the crisis between Malaysia and Indonesia.
“I was informed and affected by the ugly attack by Zainuddin Maidin on the former Indonesian President, the Most Respected BJ Habibie was published by Utusan Malaysia, the Umno-owned newspaper.
“The writings of Zainuddin Maidin is well known to be superficial and he represents Umno elites who are vilely prejudiced towards Indonesia,” Anwar said in his media statement.
Anwar firmly said that many already know Zainuddin’s background of being the former editor of the Umno-owned newspaper, Utusan Malaysia.
Anwar said that Zainuddin often points fingers and labels groups that are not aligned with Umno as being ‘traitors’.
“Zainuddin was the only senior minister who lost in the last general elections to a candidate from PKR.
“Thus we can understand the anxiety, resentment and his motives in launching such attacks,” said Anwar.
On 6 December, BJ Habibie or Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was present at a dinner organised by the Selangor government in Shah Alam, which was also attended by PKR leaders.
He also gave a lecture to students and academics which was held at the University of Selangor (UNISEL) on political and economic developments in the region.
Habibie who became the third president of Indonesia is famous for his measures of opening democratic spaces in the country by allowing freedom of expression, association and media freedom.