• by IPS Correspondents (kuala lumpur)
• Friday, November 25, 1994
• Inter Press Service

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (IPS) - Coming from a region where harsh messages are wrapped in soft tones and discussions are preferred over confrontations, Malaysia often comes across as odd man out, taking potshots at richer and more powerful countries.

Indeed, while its Asian colleagues at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) recently agreed to more liberalised trade in the Asia-Pacific, Malaysia warned developing nations about being bulldozed by stronger powers into free trade.

But developing countries say Malaysia's hardline positions often do the South a lot of good, its clout buttressed by the country's record as a booming economy that has grown by eight percent or more in the past seven years.

Even some of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's critics at home who bitterly attack his government's domestic policies privately take their hats off to the premier when it comes to foreign policy.

"Let's face it," says a political analyst here. "Who in the developing world has the guts to speak out against domination by the North and actually do something about it? Sometimes you need someone who will call a spade a spade, instead of using all this nice diplomatic talk."

Malaysia has been prickly about criticism from the West, banning public contracts for British contracts in February after the British press carried reports about corruption in Anglo-Malaysian trade. The ban lasted seven months.

But Mahathir himself is known for his sharp tongue, which he often uses to lash out against the West.

He has criticised Europe for its "incredible arrogance" toward Asia despite its economic ascendance. And in a recent book called 'The Asia That Can Say No: A Policy To Combat America and Europe', he was quoted as saying of Australians: "When Asians become rich, you become Asian -- is that what you are saying?"

Mahathir has also said there is no need for any form of overseas military bases in South-east Asia. He has strongly pushed for the creation of a nuclear-free zone in Asia, sought the lifting of international sanctions against Iraq, stronger international action regarding Bosnia and reforms in the United Nations.

But Malaysia is known most these days for its uphill battle for Asian countries to accept the idea of forming the East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC), a forum U.S. officials call a "racist move" that would draw a line down the Pacific.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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