Don't Let Foreign Nations Intervene In Affairs Of Muslim Nations, Says PM Najib

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak Wednesday reiterated that the Muslim world should reject foreign intervention because such acts clearly lead to the destruction of a particular nation. He said foreign intervention in Muslim countries would lead to a failed nation to the extent of crippling its economy, creating groups that would resort to uncontrolled violence lately and becoming a threat to Muslim and non-Muslim nations. The Prime Minister disclosed this when commenting on his special message at the opening of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), here Tuesday. "We also do not want our peoeple to invite foreign intervention because we have the right to determine our own future direction," he told reporters after concluding his three-day working visit here. Najib was leading the Malaysian government delegation to the Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Conference and the 12th WIEF here. The Prime Minister said his speech had been well received by member nations of the WIEF and it should be the stand of everyone. In his special message, Najib stated that he had said the Muslim world should clearly reject intervention, which usually were based on incomplete, wrong and biased information. "We must reject those who have political motive, who urge the foreign powers to intervene in their own country. We as the ummah or people, will be responsible for our own future, and pray that we are given guidance in such efforts," he said. As comparison, he said most Muslim nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which were not involved in foreign intervention, represent a peaceful and stable oasis. He said that without political stability, the economy would not prosper and chaos occurred in the Muslim world lately such as the invasion on Iraq which specifically led to a string of destructions. Recently, several parties including leaders of the opposition parties had objected the move by the United States (US) Department of Justice (DOJ) which issued a statement to take legal action by impounding real estate worth more than US$1 billion (RM4 billion) linked to the 1MDB. Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) president Abdul Hadi Awang had urged everyone against giving pace to the foreign powers to intervene in the affairs of the country. He said what was important was that the case must be investigated internally in a fair and transparent manner and not to the extent of allowing foreigners to intervene in the country's internal problems. Meanwhile, Najib described the Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Conference held last Monday as being very friendly and had further strengthened relations between the two countries. He said that among the matters given priority at the Conference was that Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed to find a solution to the issues concerning the waters off the South Sulawesi Sea in a wholesome manner in order to achieve a comprehensive decision acceptable to both countries. He said Malaysia and Indonesia were unanimous against taking the claim on the sea to international artitration and would resolve the issue through negotiations. He said although the issue was something complicated because it involved national sovereignty, Malaysia and Indonesia were confident it could be resolved through negotiations and both nations had agreed to issue new instructions to their respective special envoys to find a comprehensive solution. Negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia had been going on for more than 10 years to resolve the border issue and ownership rights in the south Sulawesi waters or known as Ambalat in Indonesia, however, no final solution had been achieved on the matter. Najib said the issue on the haze had also been discussed and so far, the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia had been under control. He said, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had agreed to formulate a framework to resolve the haze problem which had crossed the international boundary almost every year. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA