SYDNEY: Leading Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim claimed Friday that Australia was complicit in alleged corruption by the former government as he called on Canberra to send home a policeman implicated in a murder scandal. Former opposition leader Anwar slammed Canberra's "tainted" policy towards ousted prime minister Najib Razak's administration, which was sensationally ousted in last month's election. Anwar, who was jailed by Najib in 2015 and released after the election, said Australia had always made "extremely supportive" statements about Najib's administration. Anwar, the presumptive successor to 92-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, said he was willing to move on as relations with Australia need to be "extremely cordial". Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Canberra's previous relationship with Najib and said she was "looking forward to a close and productive relationship" with the new government.

Source: New Strait Times June 01, 2018 04:07 UTC