Fed: Malaysian PM sidesteps pre-emption issue

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2005
Fed: Malaysian PM sidesteps pre-emption issue

CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi today preferred to
look at the bigger picture of the relationship with Australia than talk about the controversial
issue of pre-emptive strikes.

Prime Minister John Howard raised the prospect of Australia taking pre-emptive action
against terrorists in neighbouring countries during the election campaign last year.

Mr Abdullah recently criticised the policy in a media interview.

When asked at the end of a brief press conference about Australia's policy, Mr Abdullah
said the press sometimes twisted such issues.

"We have a good understanding. (We are) the best of friends," he said.

"Some issues concerning which we will have different opinion.

"But that doesn't matter really. What is important is that, if we look at the bigger
picture, there is so much that we can do together.

"The press sometimes add a twist to that."

AAP dep/sb/jt/jlw

KEYWORD: MALAYSIA AUST PREEMPT

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.