About the author: Clive S. Kessler is Emeritus Professor, School of Sociology & Anthropology at The University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has been researching and writing on Malaysian affairs, especially on Islam and Politics for more than 35 years. This article first appeared in Aliran Monthly, vol 25 no 9.
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http://www.primetimecrime.com/APNS/20031023Mahathir.htm
Alluding to reports that the US President George Bush had "promoted" Australia as Washington's "sheriff" in his part of the world, Dr Mahathir said: "Of course Australia has now been designated the sheriff, not the deputy sheriff, he (Australian Prime Minister John Howard) is now the sheriff."
"I can assure Australia that if he (Mr. Howard) acts as a sheriff in this country, he will be treated as a terrorist and dealt with as a terrorist. My foreign minister I think backs me on this." Dr Mahathir made his mark on the world by speaking out loudly against Western leaders.
While not popular in the West, his standing is high as a champion of Third World and Muslim causes. Political pundits say there is no indication that Dr Mahathir is going to surrender this pedestal after he retires.
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Clive S. Kessler, in his article maintains:
"During his long premiership Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad opposed the Islamists with conviction, and a stridency that often served their political objectives more than his..."
Really, Mr Kessler?
In 1997, there were 20 Jews living in Indonesia, some of them in Jakarta and a few Jewish families of Iraqi origin in Surabaya, who maintain a small synagogue.
Clive S. Kessler, in his article maintains:Now, if only those "islamists" has enough cash to bribe the clan via Tun Daim Zainuddin... they'd probably take it and retire in Dubai."During his long premiership Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad opposed the Islamists with conviction, and a stridency that often served their political objectives more than his..."
Really, Mr Kessler?
The ONLY reason that Mahathir clamped down on some of the other islamic parties is the same reason he clamped down on the DAP and others who threatened UMNO. The swine simply wanted to stay in power, and eventually hand off to one of his lackeys so that an investigation into his families dealings would never be carried out, thus he could retire in peace to enjoy the riches the blood of his country men and women brought him.
UMNO survives on terror and Mahathir was one of its chief architects.