Malaysia and other Asean nations must take the lead in the proposed
Asean training centre for counter-terrorism. It must not be seen as a base
controlled by the US in the name of "War on Terror"
Media Statement
by Ronnie Liu
(Petaling Jaya, Thursday):Yesterday, the Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak was quoted as saying that
US has yet to provide details on the proposed Asean regional training centre
for counter-terrorism to be set up in Malaysia next year. He said that the
detailed proposal is supposed to be submitted by the Americans, and the
Malaysian Cabinet has not been officially informed yet as to the details. He
believed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is co-ordinating the matter.
The establishment of a regional counter-terrorism centre in Malaysia was
first mooted by US Secretary of State Colin Powell during his visit to Kuala
Lumpur in July. President Bush made the proposal during the APEC summit held
in Mexico in October this year and the idea was readily accepted by the by
the Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
But few details on the centre have been made public apart from some bits and
pieces from the Deputy PM and the Defence Minister.
Najib was quoted as saying that the government has only "approve in
principle" to allow for the setting up of the proposed anti-terror centre in
Malaysia, and the centre is only for capacity building, not any troop
deployment. Even the source of funding for the centre has yet to be
discussed according to Najib.
Assuming the latest information given by Najib is true, it's suffice to say
that the Malaysian Government is not prepared to play a leading role in the
proposed centre.
At a point even when the world leaders could not reach a consensus on the
definition of terrorism, it will be very problematic, and even disastrous
for Malaysia if the so-called regional centre for counter-terrorism based in
Malaysia is seen to be controlled by the US.
For instance, organisations deemed as terrorist movements by the US may not
be viewed as one in the eyes of Malaysia and other Asean nations. Last week,
the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia openly questioned the effort by the US
and Australia to convince the United Nations to blacklist Jemaah Islamiah (JI)
as a terrorist movement. We also do not think that Megawati Soekarnoputri
would agree to label the JI as a terrorist organisation at this point of
time.
The Malaysian Government would then be seen as the closest ally in the war
on terror in this region. Malaysia will also be seen as agreeing with the US
Government on the definition of terrorism as well as its strategy against
terrorism. This perception itself will make Malaysia a vulnerable target of
the terrorist movements in the region. At the least, those who hold the US
Government responsible for certain international conflicts, such as the
Palestinian- Israeli conflict, will see Malaysia as taking side with the
Americans. This will severely harm the image of Malaysia in the eyes of the
Islamic world.
It's therefore advisable for Malaysia to take the lead in the setting and
running of the regional centre, inviting every member state of the Asean to
actively participate in every program initiated by the centre. The US should
only play a consultative role with its vast expertise and
experience. The US must never be given the leading role or placed in a
position that can control or influence the decision-making process of the
proposed regional centre for counter-terrorism.
(6/11/2002)
* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP National
Publicity Secretary
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