TOKYO, Oct 21 Kyodo prefered edi...

TOKYO, Oct 21 Kyodo

prefered editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

MAHATHIR LEAVES A MALAY DILEMMA (Bangkok position Bangkok)

The Organization of Islamic conversation advanced a giant step last week at the group's meeting in Kuala Lumpur...It made clear neither the assemblage nor its members would support or apologize for any terrorist acts.

The OIC leadership merits praise for steering a solid, responsible course.

The OIC summit [i]finale[/i]ed in a dilemma, however. army and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the patriarch of Southeast Asian politics and couple weeks from retirement, committed pair giant gaffes.

In his articulate utterance to the summit, Mahathir made racist and offensive remarks about hebrews around the world. Then, instead of retracting them or calm trying to claim he was speaking of the state of Israel, he secure from dangered and repeated them. This in the same manner overshadowed the actual accomplishments of the OIC that it created an actual dilemma.

Mahathir at the highly least appears guilty of grandstanding, although many believe racism and bigotry decided his words. no other than he can know for infallible But if he wished to motivate Muslims, as he claims, he had 100 manners to choose from.

mate political leaders from Islamic countries had no inconvenience to speak to Muslim riddles and to offer both realistic and idealistic solutions. (Oct 21)

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MAHATHIR PLAYS IT sedate AT APEC (The Nation, Bangkok)

After his widely-condemned remarks about hebrews the Malaysian leader is being more circumspect in Bangkok.

Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad arrived at the APEC (The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum) leaders' summit in Bangkok after having kicked up a storm of international condemnation through his widely-criticized anti-Semitic remarks the week before.

Mahathir's robust views and his tendency not to mince words have serv him well because they enable him to push above his weight and achieve a high international profile, for better or for worse.

Singling without one people, Jews, as a target for blame for everything that is improper with many Muslim societies can alone mean the hard fact goes unrecognized.

Asia's leaders perhaps would like to diocese this latest controversy quietly fade into the background, for they have accepted Mahathir as he is. After all, he has been the same of the region's longest reigning leaders and staunchest advocates. nevertheless that is not the case with Western leaders.

However, Mahathir has been sensible enough not to carry across his rhetorical antics to this APEC meeting.

Apart from this anti-West, anti-Semitic rhetoric, Mahathir does say a accident of things that make perception Yesterday, he made an impassioned plea to APEC business leaders to make secure that globalization and the international trading scheme bring about not solely free trade but also fair trade. Other times, he has oral out against injustice in the West flat though at home there is still field for improvement by the Malaysian authorities.

everywhere his political career, Mahathir has always been at the top of his game: a sharp wit coupl with an appropriate expression that gives voice to the world's poor developing countries.

(Oct 21)

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