Duterte no-show steals the show
THE STAR
Hello again: Najib and Rosmah having a chat with Obama during the dinner function.
HE came, he left and he stole the show.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did just that at his first appearance at the Asean Summit.
This time he did not have to make any controversial statements against any leaders and all he did was to skip a few meetings including the fourth Asean-United States Summit.
Officials attending the Asean 28th and 29th Related Summits were buzzing in the hall when Duterte did not turn up at the fourth Asean-US summit which was also attended by President Barack Obama who is making his final appearance at the Summit before stepping down in a few months time.
The media was quickly alerted by officials when Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay read out Duterte’s speech at the summit. One Asean official said Obama kept a “poker face” as he listened to Yasay.
No official reason has been given by the Philippine spokesman on Duterte’s absence from the Asean-United Nations summit on Wednesday and Asean-India Summit yesterday.
However, Duterte later attended the Asean-East Asia Summit, convened immediately after the Asean-US summit which was attended by Asean leaders and its dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
Officials said Duterte gave fiery off-the-cuff remarks at the EAS summit including giving a long history of the Mindanao problem, saying Mindanao was created out of hatred.
“It was bloody because the Spaniards bring their imperialism,” Duterte was quoted as saying.
Duterte had before leaving for Vientiane, described Obama as “son of a whore”, only to later express regret after the White House cancelled bilateral talks between the two leaders here.
On Wednesday night, Duterte briefly spoke to Obama ahead of the gala dinner for state leaders attending the summit.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who met Malaysian media at the end of the summit, commented that Duterte had his own reasons for the no-show to avoid possible awkward moments.
“But he attended the East Asia Summit and defended the republic’s actions in the effort to fight drug criminals,” Najib said, adding that Duterte also had showed pictures of dead bodies said to be those of criminals.
Najib said Asean must stick together by giving very measured views and based on facts and substance.
“This (such solidarity) must happen so that Asean is respected as an organisation with credibility,” he said.
He also said Obama had singled out Malaysia during the Asean-US Summit, thanking Malaysia for its willingness to set up the regional counter messaging centre to combat terrorist propaganda including those from the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, Najib and Obama crossed paths again at the Asean summit.
A picture of the encounter showing Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor during the event, and Obama was posted on the Prime Minister’s Facebook page.
“Had a pleasant chat with President Barack Obama at the Gala Dinner in conjunction with Asean and Related Summits in Laos.
“It was nice seeing you Mr President!” stated the caption.
Both leaders had met several times earlier, including Obama’s two visits to Malaysia and once in Hawaii when the two played golf together.
Najib will be in Thailand today before returning to Malaysia.
Hello again: Najib and Rosmah having a chat with Obama during the dinner function.
HE came, he left and he stole the show.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did just that at his first appearance at the Asean Summit.
This time he did not have to make any controversial statements against any leaders and all he did was to skip a few meetings including the fourth Asean-United States Summit.
Officials attending the Asean 28th and 29th Related Summits were buzzing in the hall when Duterte did not turn up at the fourth Asean-US summit which was also attended by President Barack Obama who is making his final appearance at the Summit before stepping down in a few months time.
The media was quickly alerted by officials when Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay read out Duterte’s speech at the summit. One Asean official said Obama kept a “poker face” as he listened to Yasay.
No official reason has been given by the Philippine spokesman on Duterte’s absence from the Asean-United Nations summit on Wednesday and Asean-India Summit yesterday.
However, Duterte later attended the Asean-East Asia Summit, convened immediately after the Asean-US summit which was attended by Asean leaders and its dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
Officials said Duterte gave fiery off-the-cuff remarks at the EAS summit including giving a long history of the Mindanao problem, saying Mindanao was created out of hatred.
“It was bloody because the Spaniards bring their imperialism,” Duterte was quoted as saying.
Duterte had before leaving for Vientiane, described Obama as “son of a whore”, only to later express regret after the White House cancelled bilateral talks between the two leaders here.
On Wednesday night, Duterte briefly spoke to Obama ahead of the gala dinner for state leaders attending the summit.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who met Malaysian media at the end of the summit, commented that Duterte had his own reasons for the no-show to avoid possible awkward moments.
“But he attended the East Asia Summit and defended the republic’s actions in the effort to fight drug criminals,” Najib said, adding that Duterte also had showed pictures of dead bodies said to be those of criminals.
Najib said Asean must stick together by giving very measured views and based on facts and substance.
“This (such solidarity) must happen so that Asean is respected as an organisation with credibility,” he said.
He also said Obama had singled out Malaysia during the Asean-US Summit, thanking Malaysia for its willingness to set up the regional counter messaging centre to combat terrorist propaganda including those from the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, Najib and Obama crossed paths again at the Asean summit.
A picture of the encounter showing Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor during the event, and Obama was posted on the Prime Minister’s Facebook page.
“Had a pleasant chat with President Barack Obama at the Gala Dinner in conjunction with Asean and Related Summits in Laos.
“It was nice seeing you Mr President!” stated the caption.
Both leaders had met several times earlier, including Obama’s two visits to Malaysia and once in Hawaii when the two played golf together.
Najib will be in Thailand today before returning to Malaysia.
