Manila Shrugs at Protest Of Visit by Anwar's Wife
International Herald Tribune
April 28, 1999
Thomas Fuller

Correction published in the International Herald Tribune, Thursday, April 29, 1999:

Because of an editing error, an article from Kuala Lumpur in Wednesday editions incorrectly identified Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad.

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President Joseph Estrada of the Philippines on Tuesday ignored protests by Kuala Lumpur over a planned visit to Manila by the wife of the fiercest critic of Malaysia's president, saying the trip did not amount to "interference" in Malaysia's internal affairs.

Azizah Ismail, who is head of the opposition National Justice Party and whose husband, Ibrahim Anwar, was dismissed as Malaysia's deputy prime minister, is due to arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday for a three-day visit.

The trip has angered the Malaysian government, which on Monday summoned the Philippine ambassador to register its "unease."

Malaysia "views seriously" any country that gives Mr. Anwar's wife room to develop her political agenda, Malaysia's foreign minister, Hamid Albar, said Monday, referring to Mrs. Azizah. "We regard this as an attempt to interfere in Malaysia's domestic politics, and we hope the Philippines will understand our stand."

Mr. Estrada, who has in the past criticized the way Kuala Lumpur handled Mr. Anwar's ouster from government and subsequent trial, rejected the Malaysian minister's claim.

"That is not interfering with the internal affairs of Malaysia," he said Tuesday in the Philippine resort town of Borocay. "Everybody is welcome here," he said, adding: "We have to prove to them that we are a free country."

"Noninterference" in a neighbor's affairs has long been a mantra for Southeast Asian countries. But political scientists who have studied diplomatic relations in the region say Malaysia's claim is unusual.

"To allow the leader of a legally recognized political party to visit another country, and maybe even to meet with the leadership of that country, that's never been considered intervention," said John Funston, senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Mrs. Azizah is planning to meet with Mr. Estrada during her trip, which is partly sponsored by a foundation run by the former Philippines president, Corazon Aquino.

"I'm not doing anything wrong," Mrs. Azizah said Tuesday outside a courtroom where her husband pleaded not guilty to a charge of sodomy. "I'm actually enhancing bilateral relations."

Mr. Anwar was sentenced earlier this month to six years in prison on corruption charges. Since his dismissal from government last September by President Mahathir bin Mohamad, he has gone from being the country's heir apparent to the toughest critic of the government.

Mr. Anwar's trial date in the sodomy case will be determined sometime early next month, a judge ruled Tuesday. Government lawyers told the judge that four other sodomy charges and one additional corruption charge were "suspended."

The former deputy prime minister has appealed his corruption conviction and said he would fight the sodomy charge, which he vehemently denies.

Mr. Anwar's dismissal and beating in custody last year sparked criticism across the region, especially among the most influential countries: Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Sources close to the Malaysian government say Kuala Lumpur fears that Mrs. Azizah could help sway leaders in those countries and dilute Malaysia's influence within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Before the onset of the country's political crisis, set off by Mr. Anwar's dismissal last year, Kuala Lumpur played a leading role in the regional association, known as ASEAN.

"I think the powers that be are afraid that this visit could spark off another round of isolation of Malaysia by the three big powers in ASEAN," said a foreign policy adviser to the government.

During his time in government, Mr. Anwar became a well-known figure in the region, befriending leaders like Mr. Estrada and President B.J. Habibie of Indonesia.

But beyond those friendships, analysts say, the Anwar case has highlighted a fault line in the association between countries that are pushing for greater openness in the grouping and those wishing to stick to the strict interpretation of noninterference.

"The concern is that there would be a change in the notion of how ASEAN should behave," said the Malaysian foreign policy adviser.

Thailand proposed last year at the annual summit meeting a policy of "flexible engagement." The idea, opposed by Malaysia, was voted down.

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