Malaysia calls for Olympics not to be politicised

The Olympic Torch arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia Sunday called for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games not to be politicised as the torch arrived here Sunday amid tight security after trouble flared at other stops on its global journey.

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said Malaysia's hosting of the torch relay reflected the nation's close bilateral ties with China -- nearly a third of Malaysia's population is also ethnically Chinese.

"Malaysia takes this opportunity to reiterate that the Beijing Olympics should not be politicised and remains confident that the Olympics will be successfully held in August 2008," he said in a statement.

The torch arrived by charter plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2:19 am (1819 GMT Saturday) from Thailand and was received by officials from the Olympic Council of Malaysia and China's Ambassador to Malaysia.

The torch is being kept at a secret location before it appears in public on Monday for the Malaysian leg of the relay, the Olympic Council of Malaysia said.

The symbol of the Beijing 2008 Games is on the Asian leg of its world tour after anti-China protests in Europe and the United States earlier this month.

The protests were at Beijing's human rights record and its recent crackdown on anti-China demonstrations in Tibet.

The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia on Sunday held an hour-long multi-faith prayer session, calling for peace in Tibet following riots there and the smooth running of the torch relay and a successful Olympics.

A Tibetan monk at the candle-lit prayer session said there were no protests planned by the group, some of who live and work here, during the torch relay.

"We are not planning any protests in Malaysia tomorrow. We will show our concern by prayers only. There will be no street protests," said Chokhor, who only goes by a single name.

But Monks and Malaysian religious leaders also urged China to engage in dialogue with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to create peace and stability in the Himalayan region.

"I ... hope after the Olympic games, China will sit with world leaders, along with Tibetan leaders and hold dialogue for peace in Tibet," said Buddhist High Priest of Malaysia Reverend K. Sri Dhammaratana.

Special forces will accompany torch bearers on Monday, while 1,600 policemen will be deployed to secure the 16.5-kilometre (10-mile) route.

Local personalities and celebrities are among the 80 torch bearers who will carry the flame from Independence Square in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to the capital's Petronas twin towers on its four-hour journey.

Social activist Marina Mahathir, who will be one of those taking part in the relay, said police should not break up protests which were peaceful.

"The torch run symbolises the unity and disunity in the world. People have the right to express. It is to show the views of both sides," she said.

"I hope the authorities will take a kinder view (of the protests)," she added.

Supporters of the Falungong spiritual group protested China's rights record outside its embassy here Friday, fuelling fears of disruption during the Malaysian leg and resulting in police beefing up security.

In Asia the torch relay includes stops in Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before heading to China.

In the region it has passed through Pakistan, India and Thailand.