KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's refusal to recognise unilateral sanctions imposed by any country towards it is approriate, says a government backbencher.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said the bold stance, which was reaffirmed by
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution yesterday, is due to Malaysia's status as a sovereign and independent nation and a legitimate member of the United Nations.
"The United States should respect Malaysia's stance.
"US representatives coming to this country should not act arrogantly to threaten Malaysia with unilateral restrictions on individuals or entities in Malaysia.
"What Saifudin stated is correct, that Malaysia only recognises any form of restriction approved by the UN.
"The bold stance articulated clearly by the Home Minister explains to the US representatives that Malaysia is not a country that can be bullied by a world power," Hassan said in a statement.
He described Saifuddin's remarks on the matter as patriotic and progressive stance reflecting Malaysia's domestic and foreign policies that are free and dynamic.
Yesterday, Saifuddin and Home Ministry officials had relayed Malaysia's stance to the US when he met a delegation led by the US Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson.
The meeting centred around terror financing. Saifuddin said Putrajaya acknowledged concerns raised by US about possible money laundering activities involving groups linked to Malaysia.
Saifuddin said the delegates had asked for Malaysia's commitment to efforts to fight terrorist financing.
He had said Malaysia is a country that upholds the rule of law, and it has clear legislation to manage the issues raised.
Nelson had told selected Malaysian media yesterday that the US believes that waters off Malaysia and in the region are being used as a point for Iranian oil to be sold to buyers to escape the US sanctions on Iran.
Nelson had said said the US had been monitoring ship-to-ship oil transfers in Malaysian waters.
Nelson had also that said his visit to the Southeast Asian region from May 6 to 9 had revolved around two key priority issues, namely disrupting Russia's ability to sustain its war in Ukraine as well as countering terrorist financing by Iran and its proxies.