Malaysia - Malaysian PM unfazed by media 'grilling'

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was here for the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last week, may not have been aware that the Australian media was eagerly awaiting his arrival.

They had one thorny question for him -- on the failed refugee swap deal in which Australia was to have sent 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4,000 processed refugees.

Last Thursday, at the Burswood Entertainment Complex where Najib delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum, local reporters were waiting for him.

He explained to them, as he had done earlier in his bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart, Julia Gillard, that it was not a "Malaysian solution" but a "Malaysian-Australian" one, and contrary to the media's portrayal of Malaysia, "we treat our refugees well".

On the proposal, he told the Australians: "The reality is that the plan was first proposed by Australia and was then presented to Malaysia."

The proposal was controversial and many Australians were hostile to it, gaining much media attention.

Najib told Gillard and the local media that the perception was simply untrue.

Najib wrote an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald last week and alluded to "much ill-informed comment based on politics" regarding the issue.

He found an opportunity to make further explanation and clear the air when he was invited by Paul Bongiorno of Network 10 to appear in a segment of Meet the Press.

That was the first question Bongiorno asked.

In the interview, Najib reiterated Malaysia's good track record on refugees, pointing out that the country was home to 92,000 refugees, besides the fact that there were more than a million illegal immigrants in Malaysia.

Bongiorno later told Malaysian officials that he thought Najib had been a "strong performer" and handled well the tough questions put to him.

The interview and Najib's opinion piece in the SMH "significantly increased knowledge in Australia on issues and Malaysia's position".

Najib led the Malaysian delegation in the summit here amid rising hopes for reforms of the Commonwealth, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

With the theme "Building national resilience, building global resilience", it has been touted by many as "a landmark CHOGM" and a turning point for the Commonwealth to be revitalised in the face of a crowded international marketplace and new challenges in the world.

The leaders, after the conclusion of the summit, issued a 17-point communique.

They resolved to take concrete action on food security, climate change and sustainable development.

For Malaysia, it is significant because Najib's peace initiative for the Global Movement of the Moderates and the country's "very early" offer to host the summit in 2019, are contained in the communique.

Central in this summit was the tabling of two reports by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and by the Eminent Persons Group. Both were on key reform recommendations.

After the the meeting, there were many mixed feelings and reservations about whether the leaders had responded effectively to the calls for reforms and renewal.

But as Najib said, the commitment to and desire for reforms were evident but with a group so big and diverse, the challenge had always been to obtain consensus for every single decision.

Najib, nevertheless, described the summit as successful and productive and reinforced the leaders' commitment to and realisation of the fundamental values of the Commonwealth, particularly to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

"This CHOGM also marks the leaders' aspiration to make the Commonwealth a more relevant and vibrant body in the 21st century."

Accompanying the prime minister was his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who joined a separate programme for spouses.

In the Malaysian delegation were Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Anifah Aman and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.

By Nuraina Samad

New Straits Times

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