Attitude To U.K. READJUSTMENT IN MALAYSIA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 15

Attitude To U.K. READJUSTMENT IN MALAYSIA

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) KUALA LUMPUR, June 20. The Malaysian Acting Foreign Minister, Tun Ismail, told Parliament today that Malaysia had to “readjust” her policy towards Britain as the British Government was now reviewing her defence commitments east of Suez.

This, he added, did not mean that Malaysia was not grateful to Britain “for helping us during our time of need.”

Referring to Britain’s refusal to increase her aid to Malaysia Tun Ismail said: “Is is wrong to suggest that because Britain refused recently to give aid for the First Malaysia Plan, she is no longer our friend. “We are not ungrateful to the British Government for helping us during our time of need, but we have to look elsewhere to bridge the gap of 630 million Malaysian dollars needed for the plan.” Tun Ismail added: “We have to readjust our policy towards Britain as the British Government is reviewing her defence commitment east of Suez.”

On Malaysia’s foreign policy in general, Tun Ismail said Malaysia was not committed to any power bloc and in that sense Malaysia was not aligned. “Not Neutral”

“But Malaysia does not claim to be neutral and in her choice between right and wrong, she can never remain neutral,” he added. Tun Ismail said Malaysia supported United States policy in Vietnam because the United States had prevented South Vietnam from falling a victim to Communist expansionism.

But, he added, Malaysia would oppose any United States policy which was contrary to Malaysia’s interests or to the interests of Asia. On relations with Communist Bloc countries. Tun Ismail said Malaysia was not against communism as an ideology, “but we are against those

countries practising this kind of communism and trying to expand into other countries.” It was for this reason that Malaysia was against the People’s Republic of China but was not against Communist countries which believed in peaceful co-exist-ence.

Tun Ismail said Malaysia even wanted to have diplomatic relations with some of the Communist Bloc countries but this would take some time.