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AKARTA: Lawmakers have urged the government to lodge a formal protest with the Malaysian government in Kuala Lumpur over a newspaper editorial that referred to former president BJ Habibie as a traitor and a “dog of imperialism”.

The article, which was written by Malaysia’s former information minister, Zainudin Maidin, and reportedly published in Utusan Malaysia on Monday, compared Habibie with Malaysia’s top opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

“We must protest against such writing as it undermines Pak Habibie’s image. Leaders of both countries should respect each other,” lawmaker Teguh Juwarno from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said before a House of Representatives’ plenary meeting on Tuesday.

Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso concurred with Teguh, adding that the editorial would worsen Indonesia-Malaysia ties, which have been challenged by a number of issues lately.

Responding to the protest call, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa encouraged all Indonesians to calm down, ensuring that the government would communicate with the Malaysian government.