PETALING JAYA: Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin today launched a stinging criticism of the appointment of former police chief Abdul Rahim Noor to represent Malaysia as mediator in the peace talks between Bangkok and Muslim rebels in southern Thailand, calling it a “black eye” on the country.
The former Umno Youth chief said the appointment of Rahim, who was the inspector-general of police in 1998 when Anwar Ibrahim was dramatically arrested – before he was assaulted in custody by none other than Rahim himself – was disrespectful to the PKR leader.
“I may be on the other side but show some respect to your incoming prime minister,” Khairy said on Twitter, referring to an agreement by Pakatan Harapan to appoint Anwar as prime minister after Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Heartless and despicable. True to Palpatine form,” Khairy added.
Malaysia has played host to several rounds of peace talks between representatives from the Thai government and Mara Patani, a coalition of rebel forces, to seek a peaceful resolution to years of armed conflict in southern Thailand.
Rahim, 75, replaces Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim, who was appointed by the previous Barisan Nasional government to facilitate the peace talks.
Rahim was also instrumental in getting communist rebels to lay down arms and sign a peace treaty with the Malaysian government under the Hat Yai Peace Agreement in 1989.
Khairy said he acknowledged Rahim’s vast experience in handling the communist insurgency.
“But this appointment is a black eye on Malaysia,” he added, in a reference to injuries suffered by Anwar in September 1998.
Days after his arrest on Sept 20, 1998, Anwar shocked Malaysians when he appeared in court sporting a black eye, despite an earlier assurance by Rahim that the former deputy prime minister was “safe and sound” under police custody.
During his trial, Rahim told the court that he was provoked by Anwar, but was found guilty and sentenced to two months’ jail. In 2005, Rahim apologised to Anwar and his family for his behaviour.
Anwar, who was deputy prime minister under Mahathir, was sacked on Sept 2, 1998. He later organised a series of mammoth protests against Mahathir, before he was arrested and charged with sodomy and abuse of power.
The two buried their differences in 2016 and eventually led a coalition against Barisan Nasional.