Mend ties with New Delhi, Ramasamy urges Putrajaya

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 23 Oct 2019 10:13AM · 4 Comments

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, of DAP, says India is not known for offending or interfering in the internal affairs of nations like Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 23, 2019.

MALAYSIA must mend its deteriorating relationship with India, said DAP leader P. Ramasamy, who also slammed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his remarks against New Delhi.

“Dr Mahathir is not (US President) Donald Trump. The latter can get away with extreme statements by virtue of the power of his country.

“I don’t think Dr Mahathir needs to apologise to India, but some positive moves on the part of the Malaysian government may have the potential to reverse the deteriorating relationship,” said the Penang deputy chief minister II in a statement today.

The prime minister must surely be aware that he cannot simply say things he likes at international gatherings, said Ramasamy.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Dr Mahathir accused India of “invading Kashmir and Jammu” in defiance of a UN resolution on the disputed territory.

His remarks sparked an online backlash, with Indian social media users and news channels calling for a boycott of Malaysia.

On Twitter, #BoycottMalaysia has become one of the top-trending hashtags.

India is reportedly mulling a review of its imports of palm oil and other products from Malaysia.

On Monday, top trade body Solvent Extractors’ Association of India advised members to stop buying Malaysian palm oil, calling for the country to be “punished” for the criticism of the Indian government.

Ramasamy said India is not known for offending or interfering in the internal affairs of nations like Malaysia.

“There is so much going on between the countries, especially in the realm of people-to-people relationships.

“There is no reason why both countries would want to hurt each other. There is no necessity.”

Dr Mahathir has said he will not retract his statement on the Kashmir conflict, and that Putrajaya will find a way to deal with the boycott calls.

“We’ll study the facts of the boycott… but what is important is that their government has not said anything. We will see what the (Indian) government policy is going to be like.

“This (boycott) is not (by) the Indian government. So, we’ll have to find out how we can deal with this, communicate with the people, because trade is a two-way thing.”

Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia.

India was Malaysia’s third-largest export destination for palm oil and palm oil-based products last year. – October 23, 2019.

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Comments

  • Arrogant style will receive arrogant response. Who is Malaysia? Representing the world in anything? Who will listen to a weak and corrupted country?

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • FGV share price dropped 10% in 2 days. What more damage can Dr M. offers?

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Now we have to do damage control.. All this big brother talk was so unnecessary.

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • While trade is a two-way thing, Malaysia is dependent on India's offtake of palm oil to sustain the livelihood of the Felda settlers. Should India decide and there is talk that there has already been a parring down of forward purchases by India of palm oil from Malaysia, where are we going to sell our stock. EU has already announced it is going to purchase less palm oil to reduce biofuel usage and China manufacturing growth is slowing. indonesia would have been similarly impacted but this huge diplomatic gaffe by the PM has now presented Indonesia with a boon as they now have access to expanded capacity to a market that traditionally we have dominated. This is going to make more people poorer and unable to cope with cost of living which will surely rise as petrol price is going to be floated. Come 2/1/2020, prices of all goods and services will rise and keep rising in tandem with each rise in price of petrol and they will not come down. The targetted petrol subsidy while a good idea will not address this as businesses do not get any subsidy and the subsidy will not offset the cost of living. More and more are going to be disenchanted with PH. Riots are breaking out in a number of countries because of the economy and with racial and religious tensions being artificially built up by some irresponsible people here, this coupled with people finding it hard to survive is a recipe for disaster

    Posted 6 years ago by Michael Raj · Reply