Muhyiddin plays down Anwar’s clout with Jakarta
Muhyddin led an Umno delegation to meet with Indonesian political leaders. — File picNUSA DUA, July 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today he believes Indonesian government and political party leaders would not be easily influenced by the propaganda of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Anwar’s influence in the republic was not as great as it had been made out to be.
Muhyiddin said Indonesian leaders were better informed of the Malaysian political climate and acknowledged the long-standing good bilateral relations with Malaysia.
“To me, the situation is not as that portrayed by him (Anwar), that he is highly influential in Indonesia. I do not see it that way. He does not get much space in the local media to show that what he is doing is something great,” he told Malaysian journalists here.
Muhyiddin is here as part of his six-day visit to Indonesia to enhance bilateral relations and discuss issues standing in the way of people-to-people ties.
On July 3 in Jakarta, Muhyiddin met with Indonesian Vice-President Boediono and leaders of the three major political parties, namely Golkar Chairman Aburizal Bakrie, Democratic Party Chairman Annas Urbaningrum and Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (DPI-P) Chairman Megawati Sukarnoputeri.
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, had led a delegation of Umno leaders in the talks with the Indonesian political leaders.
“I believe the Indonesian and political party leaders are better informed of the actual situation, more so when we have close government-to-government relations,” he said.
Muhyiddin, however, did not dismiss the fact that Anwar had acquaintances in Indonesia. — Bernama
