Malaysian PM Mahathir's Parting Shots at USA and Jews on Eve of Retirement

Mahathir in his final appearance as Prime Minister in Federal Parliament

Read HERE Joe Havely's article in CNN "Mahathir: A tough act to follow"

Loved and loathed in equal measure, few would dispute that throughout his 22 years in power Malaysia's outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has been a man with a vision.

Labeled at times as a reactionary, a racist and even dictatorial, even Mahathir's critics concede that Malaysia's fortunes owe much to the leadership of the man known by millions simply as "Dr M".

Few would argue that after two decades in power Mahathir's impact on Malaysia has been anything less than impressive.

Twenty years ago Malaysia was a slow-burner economically -- going steady, but not really going anywhere -- and heavily reliant on exports of tin and rubber.

Today it is a Southeast Asian powerhouse, a key exporter of high-technology manufacturing and an influential voice among the world's developing nations.

Extracts from News. Scotsman.com On Line News:

On the eve of retirement, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad took parting swipes at the US and compared Europe’s past ill-treatment of Jews to the way Israel treats Palestinians.

At functions marking his last few public appearances before he steps down after 22 years in power, Mahathir restoked the controversy he triggered two weeks ago with comments alleging Jewish world dominance.

The remarks, initially made at a summit of Islamic leaders, prompted the US Senate to tie £700,000 in military aid for Malaysia to a guarantee of religious freedom and tolerance for Jews.

Mahathir told a crowd of about 10,000 gathered at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia’s constitution already guaranteed freedom of religion, and took an apparent swipe at the United States.

Mahathir said.:

“Some people say that we here have no freedom of religion.

In reality, the people in that country are the ones who were forced to embrace a religion. (People ) who were abducted from Africa were brought to that country and made slaves, tortured and forced to change their religion, including Muslim slaves, were forced to convert. (He did not mention any country by name.)

They (Jews) must never claim they are the chosen people, who cannot be criticised at all.

They have taken land belonging to the Muslims. Suppose a part of Britain or a part of America was taken away and given to the Jews as Israel. Do you think the Americans are going to sit quietly and say ‘Welcome,’ and all that? They won’t.

Why do you expect the Palestinians to accept being expelled from their own country ... given to the Jews.

It is not religion at all, it is territorial.”

Mahathir, who has urged Muslims to reject violence, including Palestinian suicide bombings against Israelis, said the Middle East conflict was in essence a land dispute, not a religious one.

Mahathir, 77, has been Muslim-majority Malaysia’s leader since 1981 and is credited with spearheading its transformation from a rubber and tin producing backwater to one of Southeast Asia’s most prosperous and modern countries.

He has also earned a reputation as a blunt-speaking critic of the West and champion of poorer and Islamic nations.

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