Egyptian don: Ours is an internal crisis, we don't want it internationalised

KUALA LUMPUR: Internationalizing Egypt’s domestic issues will not help the crisis-torn country rebuild itself and its people, according to a political professor.

Prof Mohammad E. Salim of Cairo University said calls for the Org­anisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the Egyptian conflict would be of “no help” to his country.

He hoped that Malaysia, which made the calls, could look at other ways to help.

“We do not mind other countries, including Malaysia, having bilateral discussions or even debates with Egyptian authorities,” he said.

“But if outsiders interfere, things will be more complicated.

“I was surprised that Malaysia wants the OIC to discuss about Egypt. Even if the intention is good, we are hoping to avoid it from being internationalized because the problem is truly a domestic matter.

“We hope Malaysia will pursue the right path in wanting to help Egypt and it’s people,” he said here yesterday.

Prof Mohammad is with Cairo University’s faculty of social sciences and has set up a department of Malaysian studies, which has published 25 books on Malaysia.

Wisma Putra had written to the secretary-general of OIC to urge for an immediate meeting among Muslim countries to take a stand to resolve the conflicts in Egypt and Syria.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said although Putrajaya had no intention of interfering in Egypt’s internal affairs, but as an organisation for Muslim countries, Malaysia wanted to see conflicts in the two countries resolved through mediation.

Prof Mohammad said Malaysia was considered as a model nation due to the progress and development it enjoyed.

He said that by March next year, Egypt would have a new constitution and would also hold a parliamentary and presidential election to elect a new government and leader.

This, he said, would pave the way for a clear road map to be drawn to build “the future Egypt”.

“We hope this will be the way forward for us and that Egypt will grow to be the country which its people aspire it to be. We expect Malaysia to support us, including through investment, education and technical expertise,” he said.