Saifuddin takes a swipe at Anifah over foreign policy

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-minted Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic) took a swipe at his predecessor Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who had chided him on how to do his job.

Saifuddin defended the move to table a motion to outline Malaysia Baharu's (New Malaysia) foreign policy.

He said it was merely a framework which acknowledged policies by the previous administration but took it a step further by enhancing it.

"We have been very careful to avoid using the words 'new foreign policy'.

"Since I became the Foreign Minister, I have never used the term 'new foreign policy' but merely a framework of New Malaysia's foreign policy," he said in his winding-up speech during a motion tabled by him earlier on Monday (Oct 15).

The motion was to debate the Prime Minister's recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, outlining Malaysia's foreign policies, which would form the basis of the foreign policy framework.

Anifah had advised Saifuddin to "sit down and talk to his officers" before making such statements in Parliament with regards to Malaysia's foreign policy.

"There are one or two who want to give an impression that I did it (motion) on my own, said Saifuddin.

"I don't want to mention which foreign minister who has never had post Cabinet meetings.

"So don't play-play. Want to tembak, tembak betul (don't simply accuse)," he added.

Saifuddin also noted that there were one or two occasions when the government did not consult Anifah, and went ahead to decide on some foreign affair matters.

Anifah, who is Kimanis MP, earlier said as a minister, Saifuddin needed to do more preparatory work and consult with his officers 

"Talk to your officers. Give yourself some time. Sit down with them (Wisma Putra officers) and discuss issues like Palestine," he said during a motion in Parliament to debate the PM’s UN speech. 

He reminded Saifuddin that the ministry had capable officers who were well versed in their job and who should be consulted before trumpeting claims that Malaysia was introducing new foreign policies.