KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not protect Indonesian oil tycoon Riza Chalid from corruption probes or prosecution and will allow the law to take its course, says Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin (pic).
Mohamad also mentioned that the issue involving Riza will not affect ongoing talks between Malaysia and Indonesia regarding the long-standing Ambalat dispute in the Sulawesi Sea.
“The Prime Minister has said the issue involving Riza is a legal matter, and we will not give protection for him.
“Let the law take its course. This is the PM’s commitment.
“The issue that purportedly impacted negotiations at the Sulawesi Sea does not arise,” Mohamad said during Question Time in Parliament on Wednesday (July 30).
Mohamad emphasised that Malaysia is stern about the legal process and that no one is above the law.
“No protection will be given to those who are wrong,” Mohamad added.
Anwar, who is presently in Jakarta, Indonesia for an official trip, stated that Malaysia will not interfere in legal matters involving Riza, who is implicated in a corruption case involving fuel imports.
Acting Indonesian Immigration director-general Yuldi Yusman reportedly said on July 16 that Riza is believed to be in Malaysia since February 6, having departed from Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Riza has been named as a suspect in a corruption case linked to state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina.
Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question by Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Kamal (PN-Machang) who asked if the Riza issue will affect ongoing talks between Malaysia and Indonesia at the Sulawesi Sea.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) inquired about the outcome of talks between Malaysia and Indonesia over the Ambalat dispute.
According to Mohamad, numerous issues were discussed, including border trade between Sabah and Indonesia, and maritime affairs between the two countries.
“The Sulawesi sea was generally discussed, and both leaders agreed to solve it according to present mechanisms in order to find the best solution based on international laws to preserve the interests of both countries,” Mohamad said.
Mohamad also stated that in the Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultative meeting, several agencies were involved, including Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, the Sabah Attorney General’s Chambers, and the Sabah Marine Department, among others.
“The Federal government is always serious in obtaining the views of the state government to ensure that the interests of Sabah and Sarawak are preserved during talks,” he added.
Anwar and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued a joint statement recently on a proposed joint development in the Sulawesi Sea.
Both leaders expressed strong commitment to accelerating strategic cooperation in various fields, including a joint development in Ambalat in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner.
In a statement by Wisma Putra after the joint statement, it was explained that the remarks by Anwar and Prabowo represent initial efforts by both leaders to seek the best solution for both countries.
The Ambalat block, measuring 15,000 square kilometres in the centre of the territories dispute outside Sabah’s coastal area, is said to have one of the largest sources of crude oil in the world.
In 2004, PETRONAS’ concession to Shell to explore oil and gas within the Ambalat area drew Indonesia’s protest, which had given the concession to Italian company ENI.
It was reported that in 2009, Indonesia protested Malaysia’s military presence in the area, and in the following year, Indonesian navy ships purportedly came close to opening fire on a Malaysian navy patrol ship for ignoring orders to leave.
