Despite brickbats hurled by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin has refused to apologise for criticising Indonesia’s third president BJ Habibie, arguing that his remark will not affect the ties between the two countries.

NONE Zainuddin told Sin Chew Daily that the criticism by Susilo, who is currently in Malaysia on an official visit, was reported by Indonesia's official news agency Antara, but the president did not issue any such statement in Malaysia.

“Hence, I will not respond to (Susilo's) statement quoted by Antara .

“Unless Susila makes the same criticism in Malaysia, then I would see if it is necessary to respond. I don't think this statement will damage the good ties between Malaysia and Indonesia,” Zainuddin ( above, left ) is quoted as saying.

Susilo was quoted by Antara on Monday, a day before he left for Malaysia, as saying that Zainuddin's article published in Utusan Malaysia on Dec 10, was unethical and improper and could jeopardise Putrajaya-Jakarta bilateral relations.

Article to protest Anwar’s actions

The article by Zainuddin, a former enditor-in-chief of Utusan , mocked PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for inviting Habibie to deliver a lecture at Universiti Selangor on Dec 6.

NONE He accused Habibie ( left ) of allowing Western powers to influence him into calling for a referendum on East Timor's independence, which Zainuddin claimed led to the former’s short-lived 17-month stint as Indonesia's president.

Zainuddin had further said Habibie had betrayed his country and race and that Anwar, like Habibie, was similarly susceptible to control by foreign powers.

In conclusion, he said that the duo were "the dogs of imperialism".

The article has since disappeared from Utusan 's webite.

In his interview with Sin Chew Daily , Zainuddin explained that the article was to protest Anwar's action of bringing in Indonesia's violent demonstration culture by inviting Habibie to give a speech in Malaysia.

“Using the name of academic lecture, Anwar attempted to bring in the culture of demonstration and violence. That is his hidden agenda. Habibie can come to Malaysia to meet (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang or (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang, no problem, but not Anwar.”

NONE He said Anwar's action has turned Malaysia into chaos, which saw many street demonstrations and protests recently, including the acts of assaulting police and vandalising public property.

Zainuddin added that the Chinese community has been provoked by Anwar to take part in street demonstrations led by him, without knowing that they have been manipulated by the opposition leader to achieve his goal of toppling the BN federal government and establish a violent regime.