The Seri Setia state assemblyman said the statement by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that Malaysia would not stop Mugabe, 93, from coming to Malaysia on the basis of medical tourism was “very disappointing”.
“Malaysia should not be party to any deal which prevents or retards the democratisation as well as the course of justice in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Mugabe’s fate should ultimately be decided by the people of Zimbabwe via a civilian, democratically-elected government,” he said in a statement today.
He said he hoped that online reports of Mugabe possibly seeking asylum in Singapore or Malaysia would not turn out to be true.
He said if such an application was made, the Malaysian government must not allow him in.
Zahid had yesterday said the government would not prevent or object to Mugabe coming to seek medical treatment as it did not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
He said this stand was in line with the government’s aim of promoting health tourism in Malaysia to the international community.
Describing Zimbabwe as being at a crossroads, Nik Nazmi said the future of the “long-suffering, kleptocracy-ridden nation” depended not only on the choices of its leaders and people, but also on whether the international community had the courage to stand by its principles.
“Whatever the case, President Robert Mugabe must surely realise that his people have turned against him and, more importantly, that his time in power is up.
“The only legitimate and acceptable outcome to the current impasse is the complete, peaceful restoration of civilian rule as well as free and fair elections for a new government of national reconciliation,” he added.
On Nov 15, Zimbabwe’s military took control of the country in a coup, as Mugabe and his wife Grace were reportedly placed under house arrest.
The 93-year old, who has ruled over Zimbabwe since 1980, was later sacked by his own ZANU-PF party.
Mugabe was widely expected to announce his resignation during a televised address yesterday, but made no mention of such a move in his speech.
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