ISTANBUL: The wreath-laying ceremony at the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkiye, is part of a mandatory official protocol that must be observed by all heads of state during official visits to the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the ceremony does not carry any political message or the ideological stance of any leader.
Anwar said the confusion and criticism from a small segment of Malaysians over the matter stem from a lack of understanding of the historical background and context of the era in which Ataturk lived.
“I don’t think many people truly understand this.
“The fact is, all heads of state or government on official visits to Turkiye are required to observe this ceremony,” he said at a press conference on the final day of his official visit to Turkiye.
Anwar said the act of paying respects should be viewed within Turkiye’s historical context, particularly the role played by Ataturk in leading the resistance against attempts by the Allied powers after the First World War to fragment the territory of the Ottoman Empire, which ultimately led to the country’s liberation and the formation of the modern republic.
He said the people of Turkiye view Ataturk as a leader who defended their homeland from European colonisation, and this perception underpins the high level of respect the country continues to accord him today.
However, the prime minister said that personally he disagrees with some of Ataturk’s decisions and policies concerning Islam, including changes to the language of the call to prayer, writing systems, and administrative aspects.
Nevertheless, he said these differences in opinion do not diminish Ataturk’s significant contributions in safeguarding Turkiye’s sovereignty.
“There are policies and decisions of his that I do not agree with and that do not align with my stance, but his contribution to saving the country from colonisation cannot be erased,” he said.
Commenting on the criticism directed at him in Malaysia, Anwar described it as arising from hasty judgements and a lack of historical understanding.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
