KUALA LUMPUR: The government has sent a letter of protest to the United States government expressing disappointment over remarks by a US State Department official on the allegation that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had been involved in an act of sodomy.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday was couched in diplomatic language.

"We will wait and see what Rice has to say. We have said what we wanted to say in the language of diplomacy," he said after launching the Group of Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D-8) Sixth Summit's International Media Centre at a hotel here.

Rais expected Rice to react positively to the letter and to inform her officers "not to be too startling in their remarks against friendly countries".

He was commenting on remarks by US State Department spokesman Tom Casey, who recalled that Anwar had faced similar charges in the past (in 1998, when he was deputy prime minister) and that his conviction had been overturned.
Casey had hoped that this would not be repeated with regard to the current allegation against Anwar.

Asked about Malaysia's next course of action if Washington did not respond to the letter, he said: "We will cross the bridge when we come to it."

On whether he felt the US was in the habit of interfering in Malaysian affairs, Rais said the former somehow had a special interest in Malaysia but that other countries also experienced such things.

Rais said the letter was sent on the principle that Malaysia, as a sovereign nation under the rule of law, had its own judicial administration system.

Asked whether the current development between Malaysia and the US would affect bilateral ties, he said he did not think the relationship would change.

"I think that this is just an esoteric act on behalf of the State Department by a junior officer and that it should not put a strain on it.

"The better view will be to understand each other after having seen how both parties have acted."

Rais said Malaysia would accept constructive criticism based on facts "but if the criticism is based on a political viewpoint which is judgemental, we will rebut (that position)".

On two Malaysians taken into custody by Thai authorities for alleged involvement in Ronda Kumpulan Kecil's militant activities, Rais said the action was part of Thai operations.

"We advise Malaysians not to be part of any operations which involve Thai interests."