ANTI-M'SIA MOVEMENT NOT REFLECTIVE OF OVERALL SENTIMENT IN INDONESIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The anti-Malaysia demonstrations organised
by certain groups in Indonesia do not reflect the overall sentiment of people in
the republic, says Foreign Ministry secretary-general Rastam Mohd Isa,
who retires from diplomatic service Thursday.

"And I believe that both governments will find an amicable solution to the
issue," he told reporters after meeting with staff of the Institute of Diplomacy
and Foreign Relations, here, Thursday.

Rastam, 59, will be replaced by the ministry's deputy secretary-general I
Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman effective Friday.

One of the groups calling themselves Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera)
recently demonstrated and threw faeces into the compound of the Malaysian
embassy in Jakarta and planned to "sweep" Malaysians off the streets of
Indonesia.

Rastam, who had served as Malaysia's ambassador to Indonesia from 1999 to
2003, said diplomats played a vital role in ensuring good relations between two
countries.

"However, we sometimes cannot control the emotions of individuals or certain
groups. Even in Malaysia, we cannot control such emotions against other
countries.

"Hence, in such situations, all quarters need to realise that in a country's
relations with others, the actions of individuals and groups, whether to defame
their own country or another country, will create problems," he said.

He advised diplomats who faced such conflicts to be calm and give accurate
reports to the government so that sound decisions could be made.

"In such situations too, our diplomats overseas should ensure the safety of
themselves, their family members and fellow Malaysians by taking appropriate
precautionary measures.

"They must also see that the host country ensure the safety of Malaysians
against threats or undesirable acts by protest groups," he said.
-- BERNAMA


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