The Indonesian people not to overreact to the statement.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House of Representatives (DPR) Chairman Marzuki Alie said he has written to the Malaysian government to raise an objection to the statement of former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin that harshly criticized former president BJ Habibie.
"The DPR has decided at its plenary meeting to write to the Malaysian government to take responsibility for the statement of its citizen which has the potential to create a conflict," he said here on Thursday.
Marzuki said no foreign citizen has the right to blaspheme or insult a public official of other country because this may disrupt bilateral ties.
Therefore, he called on the Indonesian people not to overreact to the statement, much less to insult Malaysian high-ranking officials.
"In the era of democracy everybody has the right to speak every thing. But in order to enhance bilateral ties I warn the Indonesian people against insulting or humiliating leaders of other countries," he said.
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin who was the finance minister during the government of former prime minister Abdullah Badawi reportedly wrote an editorial carried in the Malaysian media. The editorial contains harsh criticism leveled to BJ Habibie.
The article emerged in the media after BJ Habibie visited Selangor University in Malaysia where he delivered a lecture on Habibie and Indonesian transition towards democracy.
(T.D018/S012/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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