"Our former leaders should not be insulted."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Aisyah Aminy, a senior politician of the United Development Party (PPP), has urged Foreign Affairs Minister to send a letter of protest to the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, highlighting the editor who had insulted Indonesia`s former president, BJ Habibie.
"It is important that Indonesia sends a letter of protest because our former leaders should not be insulted," said Aisyah Aminy, on Wednesday.
She commented on an editorial column written by Malaysia`s former information minister, Zainudin Maidin, who had called Habibie a traitor to his nation.
He had also compared Habibie to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia`s opposition figure and had called them "dogs of imperialism".
The lady politician said Zainudin Maidin`s statement is incorrect because during his presidential term, Habibie had implemented 71 policies, which served as a foundation for the reform era.
She said the negative comments cannot be viewed as personal comments of Maidin because he is Malaysia`s former information minister.
"It`s an opinion of a former information minister, not just an ordinary person. So, we should respond by lodging a complaint with the Malaysian prime minister," she stated.
TB Hasanuddin, a lawmaker, said the comments are exaggerated, and they are insulting to the people of Indonesia.
"Apart from lodging a complaint, the Indonesian House of Representatives should inform the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia about this issue," he said.
Zainudin had written the editorial column in Utusan Malaysia, following BJ Habibie`s visit to Malaysia on December 6, 2012. Habibie had given a lecture on democracy at the University of Selangor in Penang, Malaysia.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
