Umno has been urged to censure Utusan Malaysia and former information minister Zainudin Maidin, over an escalating row which stemmed from the latter's article containing scathing criticism of several Indonesia leaders.  

 

In a press release today, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim warned that Zainuddin's vitriol has spread from former president BJ Habibie to another former president, Gus Dur, and prominent reformist Amien Rais.

 

NONE Anwar said that the comments were rude and Umno, as Utusan Malaysia 's owners, should compel the daily to apologise for publishing Zainuddin's original piece.

 

He also urged Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to take action.

 

"Rais should not beat around the bush and give excuses in view of concerted attempts to insult Indonesian leaders which were published by Utusan Malaysia , which is owned by Umno.  

 

"In view of this, is it not appropriate for Umno leaders to urge Zainuddin and Utusan Malaysia to apologise openly?

 

"I believe that such rude behaviour does not reflect public sentiment and is rejected by the majority of Malaysians who respect those Indonesian leaders," he said.

 

On Dec 10, Utusan Malaysia had published an article penned by Zainuddin, who mocked Anwar for inviting Habibie to deliver a lecture at Universiti Selangor on Dec 6.

Zainudin defends himself

Zainuddin's article accused Habibie of being a puppet of foreign powers, who wanted to see East Timor's secession from Indonesia by means of a referendum.  

 

He argued that Habibie had betrayed his country and his race, which resulted in his presidency lasting only 17 months.

 

NONE Zainuddin accused Habibie and Anwar of sharing similar traits, labelling them both as the "dogs of imperialism".  

 

Following this, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Indonesian media condemned Zainuddin, who continued to fuel the war of words through his blog.

 

In a post last Thursday , Zainuddin accused Habibie and his successor Gus Dur of visiting Malaysia on Anwar's invitation to spread democracy.

"This act really hurts the feelings of Malaysias and it is disrespectful to our country's official leaders," wrote Zainuddin.

 

In a post this morning , Zainuddin drew Amien Rais into the fray by accusing him of conspiring with Habibi and Gus Dur to hold demonstrations in Indonesia back in 1997.

On Dec 12, Zainuddin told Indonesian news organisation Tempo that his disparaging remarks against Habibie were designed to expose the latter's occasional attempts to interfere in Malaysia's affairs.

'Why did Utusan remove Zam's article on Habibie?'