It is very clear that John Malott and I fundamentally differ about the important concepts of freedom of speech and the practice of democracy. In case we forget, let us first be reminded by the various positions Malott has taken on important issues in his tireless crusade to uphold democracy in our country:

Malaysians will recall the infamous endorsement by former US vice president Al Gore for the reformasi movement during the Apec Summit in November 1998, in Kuala Lumpur, and his kurang ajar (rude) attitude by walking out immediately after his pre-dinner speech.

Malott, in his pivotal position as the US ambassador to Malaysia at the time, was without doubt a supporter if not a principal orchestrator of Al Gore's display of arrogance and his endorsement of the street demonstration variety of democracy.

When subsequently summoned to Wisma Putra by then Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malott defended his vice president, remarking that Al Gore had done nothing more than to defend the immutable rights of Malaysians to free speech and assembly.

Malott, even into his retirement, has consistently defended his "dear friend" (Malott's own words) Anwar Ibrahim, calling him a prisoner of conscience. He has regularly spoken out against the unfairness of the Anwar trial and of the subsequent treatment of him in prison. The various articles he has written, including in malaysiakini , makes it very clear that we have a former US ambassador who was on more than just friendly terms with our former deputy prime minister.

Malott is a strong, vehement and consistent critic of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He does not hide his disdain for Mahathir and has gone so far as to urge President George W Bush not to meet with our prime minister in April this year.

This is what he had to say of his president's invitation to meet with our Prime Minister: "In order to combat terrorism after Sept 11 we (the US) are ready to hold our noses again and meet people who abhor and step on every principle the United States has believed in for the past 200 years."

It should therefore be of no surprise why Malott and I disagree with each other on so many things. I believe that freedom of speech is a qualified and not absolute right, and depends greatly on what was said, to whom and in what context.

Malott believes in the right of anyone to say anything about anyone or anything. I have always been and will always be a vocal supporter of Mahathir. Malott is a bitter critic. I believe in the continuing need for the ISA in a multicultural, multireligious, emerging society like Malaysia. Malott does not.

I believe the Malaysian judicial system accorded Anwar a fair trial with some of the country's best lawyers defending him. Malott believes Anwar was a victim of a high level political conspiracy and was never guilty.

As for his reference to Jamal Amro's statements about an alleged conspiracy involving myself, and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malott should know better than to take such a cheap shot. I too can just as easily provide a sworn statement in Virginia, to the effect that Malott attempted to bribe me to say that I had sexual relations with Mahathir and that Al Gore would pay me for doing this.

I am amazed that Malott considers that I have an obligation to apologise to Pak Lah for Jamal's wild accusations. Would he have apologised to Gore if the shoe were on the other foot? Malott should know better than to take one man's words to be evidence of the facts. Unless of course, he has another motive altogether for highlighting Jamal's statement to implicate our next prime minister perhaps?

For the record, let us be clear about the facts. Jamal Amro was a part-time freelance driver used by the Malaysian Embassy in Washington DC for visiting Malaysian dignitaries, including Anwar. He regularly drove Anwar during the latter's visits to Washington DC, both for official and private functions around the US capital.

Two people had full knowledge of Anwar's movements and whereabouts in Washington — Jamal Amro, as the driver and myself, as the diplomat with principal responsibility for administration and finance, including budget and internal auditing at the Malaysian Embassy.

Sometime after Anwar's dismissal, Jamal Amro drove no more for the embassy. Let others be the judge of Jamal's true motivations in making the statement that he did and for flying all the way to Malaysia to defend Anwar Ibrahim.

Just as Malott is a friend of the former deputy prime minister, so he now claims that he is one to our present deputy prime minister. With a friend like Malott, Pak Lah has no need for enemies.