Legislator appreciates Malaysian PM`s apology

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Yusron Ihza Mahendra, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I, said here on Friday the apology made by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the manhandling of an Indonesian karate referee by Malaysian police was a gesture that should be appreciated.

"Yes, I think, the apology from the Malaysian prime mInister is more than enough and an extraordinary gesture toward the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, we will be acting excessively if we still demand diplomatic action on the matter," Yusron said.

"An apology from the Malaysian police chief or foreign minister would have been enough. However, it`s quite strange that both (Malaysian officials) seemed to be reluctant to apologize after meeting our President several days ago," he said.

The Malaysian government, in this case Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, offered an official apology to Indonesia for the incident in which several Malaysian policemen had beaten up Indonesian karate referee Donald Luther Kolopita.

"Last night (Aug 29) at about 8 p.m Central Indonesia Time (WITA) President Yudhoyono received a telephone call from the Malaysian premier expressing profound regrets and offering an apology for the incident," presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said at the Tampak Siring Palace in Bali Thursday night.

The assault on the Indonesian karateka referee took place on Friday (Aug 24) when Donald was beaten up and kicked by four Malaysian police officers without any clear cause.

Dino said the phone conversation between the two heads of government was "constructive and friendly" like between two brokers, with the Malaysian premier saying that such incident should not have happened.

Yusron also expressed confidence that the Malaysian government would continue to settle the incident legally.

"I am sure about it (the legal process). Malaysia will take stern action against its security personnel who caused a headache to their prime minister," the legislator from the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) said.

He said it was the destiny of Indonesia and Malaysia to be neighboring countries and this would last indefinitely.

"Therefore, it will be no use for both (countries) to hate each other, much less to be hostile toward each other," Yusron.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato Zainal Abidin Muhammad Zain had a meeting with members of the House`s Commission I on Thursday to discuss the assault on Indonesia`s senior karate referee by four Malaysian police.

At the meeting, the ambassador told the legislators that the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister did express his deep regret over the incident to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when the minister had a meeting with the President in Jakarta on Tuesday. (*)

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