Malaysian leader persists in criticism of Jews and the West

MALAYSIAN prime minister Mahathir Mohamad kept up his strong criticism of Jews and the West yesterday, just days ahead of his retirement after more than 22 years in power.

Defending his recent remarks that Jews rule the world, Mahathir stressed that Muslims have the right to speak out concerning their anger toward Jews, whom he said should not be treated as "creatures who cannot be condemned in any way."

Mahathir's comments about Jews have drawn condemnation from the United States, the European Union, other countries and Jewish groups. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre urged foreign companies to boycott investment in Malaysia because of what it called Mahathir's "serial anti-Semitism."

"We are dealing with anti-Muslim people," Mahathir told a news conference Monday. "They can be anti-Muslim, but we cannot even say one word about the Jews without being accused of being anti-Semitic."

Mahathir, aged 77, is retiring Friday after ruling for more than two decades, during which he has become known for outspoken, provocative comments, especially about what he sees as Western domination of developing countries and US policy in the Middle East.

Asked by a reporter if there was any chance of a last-minute change of heart about retiring, Mahathir replied: "No way. I'm going to leave. I have decided to leave and I will leave."

Mahathir said the adverse reaction to a speech he made in Malaysia earlier this month at a summit of Islamic countries during which he claimed that Jews "rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them" proved his points were accurate.

"You say that you are not under the influence of the Jews and yet, when I criticise the Jews, the whole of the European Union wants to condemn me," Mahathir said. "But when somebody condemns the Muslims ... (does) the European Union say anything?"

He said that "shows that they are under the thumb of the Jews."

Mahathir, however, said he did not consider himself anti-Semitic.

Mahathir was speaking after attending a gathering of finance ministry staff, some of whom recited a farewell poem thanking him for bringing economic progress to this Southeast Asian country of 25 million people.

At an earlier news conference, Mahathir reiterated his criticism of the West, which he said had a history of forcing its will on weaker nations.