KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia cannot get involved in what is happening in the Middle East, especially not via military intervention, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said as a free country, Malaysia can voice its objections towards war and violence but not by sending in troops.
“We do not agree when any country is attacked and colonised. We do not want any country to interfere in our national affairs.
“That is why, regardless of country or government, we will never agree to that,” he said when launching the National Consumers Day.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia would not allow such attacks and that was why, voicing these objections were important.
“If we remain quiet, what happens to us if such a thing were to happen to our country?” he asked.
Anwar said Malaysia maintained its stand that all violence must stop and would continue to voice out its thoughts for peace and stability.
“We are fortunate that even as a small country, many major nations such as Saudi Arabia, contacted us and asked if we can help to intervene.
“This is because Malaysia has a stable government and that is growing well economically,” he said.
On fuel subsidy, Anwar said the government had to allocate a subsidy of RM2bil a month to maintain the price of RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre, following the hike in world crude oil prices.
He said the government would also continue to bear the diesel subsidy in Sabah and Sarawak, set at RM2.15 per litre compared to the actual cost of RM4.30 per litre.
“Last year, the diesel subsidy for Sabah and Sarawak was RM2bil. So far this year, since the tensions (in the Middle East), the price has soared.
“The government has to pay (an estimate if current prices remain) RM4.6bil a year to cover the diesel subsidy in both states,” he said.
“So far, we are holding on and in April we can still hold on, but what about in May? Then we need to sit down and talk,” he said.
