Why does Dr Mahathir need to say things that clearly "puts his foot in his mouth":http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,189547,00.html? The latest of a long line of such examples is his claim that the US is "afraid of its own shadow":http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3033409.stm because it has issued "travel warnings against Malaysia":http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-682807,00.html.
While the effects of such a statement may have far-reaching implications on an already depressed economy that relies heavily on external investment, the US and any other country for that matter is well within its rights to warn its citizens living overseas or planning to travel overseas. Not unlike the travel advisories the Malaysian government issued during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong/China/etc.
While its important that the Malaysian government "issue a statement assuring foreign visitors that the country is safe":http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/39930/1/.html, i think our PM goes too far in seeing the need to make such agressive statements. In a world already full of antagonism, it doesn't help anyone to add a little more.
But then again, he is our Old Man, and love him or hate him, he does know how to entertain. I reckon Abdullah Badawi, when "he takes over at the end of the year":http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-05/10/article09.shtml, will be much less so, the -dry coot- diplomat that he is.
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