Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says the federal government has failed to address threats made to Malaysian scholarship students or to speak out generally about his country's injustices.
Mr Anwar received a standing ovation in Adelaide on Saturday, after appearing in conversation with ABC broadcaster Waleed Aly at the city's Festival of Ideas.
Earlier this week, a student adviser at the Malaysian consulate in Sydney emailed students, warning that "stern action" would be taken against those attending Mr Anwar's democracy address.
"You are smarter to think and focus on what matters rather than joining this activity that could make your hardship in maintaining good grades and earning the scholarship go down the drain."
Mr Anwar and independent senator Nick Xenophon called for the federal government to condemn the threats.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade responded with a statement saying: "All students residing in Australia, including Malaysian students, enjoy all rights and liberties available under the Australian law, including the ability to attend a wide variety of legitimate events taking place in Australia.
"The Festival of Ideas in Adelaide is one such event."
Mr Anwar said the government's failure to address the intimidation was unacceptable and it should "speak up".
A stance of saying Australia cannot interfere was at odds with responses to other international issues such as Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, he said.
While Mr Anwar said he was greeted by Australians in the street and congratulated for his fight for democracy, the situation with politicians was different.
"Enough of this ambivalence," he said.
"You are supporting dictators on the one hand and preaching democracy on the other."
Mr Aly referred to Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently offering an "act of contrition" to the Malaysian Prime minister Najib Tun Razak over his robust political campaigning before he was elected, and asked what Mr Anwar wanted the Australian government to do.
While Australia should continue to promote excellent bilateral relations in business, education and other areas, Mr Anwar asked "must you be completely silent and sacrifice the ideals you stand for", referring to freedom and democracy.
He also described as "odd" the recent landmark Malaysian court decision barring a Christian newspaper from using the word Allah to refer to God, in a case where the government argued the word was specific to Muslims.
Senator Xenophon told the audience he was "deeply embarrassed with the pathetically weak response" from the Australian government on the student threats.
Despite the email, many students attended the packed event, although some asked to remain anonymous.
Jerad Tan told AAP it had been very frustrating to get the email, noting the Festival was a forum to share ideas and knowledge, not a political rally.
A Malaysian-born woman, who has been in Adelaide for decades and who did not want to be named, told AAP the email was shocking and very silly.
"They are students,telling them not to come will make them more curious," she said.
"They are intelligent people, how can you think they will not think for themselves?".
