Hishamuddin and Dàgē (大哥)

Malaysiakini:

Anwar: Hisham's 'big brother' China an insult to our non-aligned stance

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim described Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's statement calling China "big brother" to Malaysia as an insult to our non-aligned position.

Anwar said China is a friend and efforts should be made to improve trade and investment cooperation but said such language was inappropriate in international diplomacy.

"This is not the language or style that should be used in global diplomacy and international relations.

"It makes it look as if Malaysia is a foreign puppet," he said.

Hishammuddin, who ended his two-day working visit to China, had during a press conference with his counterpart Wang Yi, described China as Malaysia's "big brother".

Wang Yi responded by saying: "We are brothers". The exchange was reported by the state media in China.

Anwar said Hishammuddin's conduct deviated from Malaysia's decades-long position in international diplomacy.

"As a non-aligned nation that does not side with any major power, his (Hishammuddin's) statement is a clear form of insult on our country.

"The foreign minister should apologise to Malaysians and retract his tasteless statement," he added.

While Malaysia and China have seen increasingly strong ties, a few key issues remain.

This includes China's repeated encroachment into Sarawak waters which is recognised under international law.

However, China does not recognise the Exclusive Economic Zone that defines international maritime borders and claims most of the South China Sea as its own.

Meanwhile, a group of researchers also expressed concern that Malaysia describing China as a "big brother" will send a strong signal to other major powers and raise questions about the country's foreign policy direction.

"The use of such a term is inappropriate in Malaysia's foreign policy direction," they said in a joint statement.

The statement was signed by Research for Social Advancement research coordinator Fakhrurrazi Rashid, Strategic Studies and International Relations Researcher Group's Ahmad Muziru Idham Adnan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak international studies alumnus Muhammad Ariff Mohamad Nizam.

They said Malaysia needs to be consistent in its non-aligned position to protect the national interest.

"The Foreign Ministry should explain to Malaysians the use of the "big brother" term as it could be interpreted as China being a protectorate of Malaysia and that Malaysia will bow to China.

"Both countries have various overlapping claims involving the issue of sovereignty," they added.

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FMT:

I used ‘elder brother’ for my counterpart, not China, says Hisham

At a joint press conference in Beijing, Hishammuddin Hussein had told Wang Yi he would always be his ‘elder brother’. (AP pic)

PETALING JAYA: Foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the “elder brother” term he used at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart, was to describe Wang Yi and not the republic.

In a tweet, Hishammuddin said the phrase he used did not refer to Malaysia’s bilateral relations with Beijing.

Hishammuddin said he used it out of respect for Wang Yi, who is older and a more senior foreign minister.

“Hence, (he’s an) ‘elder brother’ to me personally. Being respectful does not signify weakness,” he said.

Strong ties, he added, were based on mutual trust and equality.

It was reported that Hishammuddin had told Wang that his Chinese counterpart would “always be my elder brother”. Wang agreed with him, saying “we are brothers”.

His two-day visit to China is at the invitation of Wang.

Hishammuddin’s tweet comes in the wake of criticisms over the use of the phrase, including by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who demanded that he apologise and retract his statement.

Hishammuddin went on to assure Malaysians that the nation remained “independent, principled and pragmatic” in terms of its foreign policy.

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kt notes:

Much as I detest Hishamuddin for his pally-buddy with treacherous Ass-binte, I have to agree with him on this issue - it's polite Asian culture to address a slightly more elderly counterpart as Dàgē (大哥). Such socio-cultural courtesy is the very epitome of good Confucian upbringing.

Even in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and hierarchical-conscious Java and India, such courtesies are practised. Thus I believe Hishamuddin has shown his good breeding.

Dei mateys we aren't Westerners lah! Wakakaka.