KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s pragmatic approach on foreign relations will not change as long as it benefits the country, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican. He said Malaysia would never be biased or take sides when there was a clash between two countries.
“Malaysia will ensure good relationships with any country. After ties soured between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, we (Malaysia) remain in good contact with both (of the countries).
“If there are allegations that because of Malaysia’s good relationship with Saudi Arabia we are not allowed to have a healthy relationship with Qatar…that’s not the policy that we practice.
“Recently, Malaysia received a visit from the Emir of Qatar (Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al Thani) and several substantive agreements were achieved during the visit,” he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2018 at the committee stage for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
Reezal Merican was replying to a question from Khalid Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam) who had wanted to know the country’s stance on foreign relations with countries in conflict like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Reezal Merican said Malaysia’s foreign policy did not restrain it from continuing to establish relations with any other country. “The pragmatic policy that we practice does not prevent us from dealing with anyone.
For example, when the United Nations secretary-general was asking for the reopening of ports to ensure that all aid will enter Yemen…Malaysia was one of the countries that supported the motion,” he said.
Replying to Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (PAS-Kuala Nerus) on the crisis in Syria, he said Malaysia’s role was just at the multilateral level.
Currently, he said there were several mechanisms used by the countries involved to restore peace and stability in that country. Qatar had a fall out with Saudi Arabia after the kingdom alleged that it was supporting terrorists. Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are siding with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-Yemeni conflict broke out after forces loyal to the Saudis lost a civil war to Iranian-backed rebels in the impoverished Arab nation. — Bernama