The demonstrations held outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta are the work of mercenary groups, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said the demonstrators were hired by certain quarters to cause a rift in ties between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“They want us to get angry so that if respond, ties with Indonesia will become soured. We must not get trapped in their games,” he told a press conference after chairing a meeting of Umno’s supreme council at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur today.  

Yesterday , some 600 demonstrators gathered in front of the embassy and burned the Malaysian flag and spat on it while screaming “ganyang Malaysia” (go to war with Malaysia).

They held the demonstration to protest alleged trespass by Malaysian authorities into Indonesian waters.

Najib said he did not view their actions as reflecting the stand of Indonesia’s leadership as the two countries had very good relations.

“We are very comfortable with our relationship and and no one should try to cause any rift between Indonesia and Malaysia. We deem this episode to be the work of mercenary groups,” he said.

He said Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia Da’i Bachtiar had also been called to ask the Indonesian authorities to tighten security around the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta so that such incidents did not recur.

Najib, who is also Umno president, later broke fast with members of Barisan Nasional component parties and performed the ‘Tarawih’ prayers at the PWTC’s surau.

- Bernama