| Written by Kazi Mahmood 30/03/2008 | |
| Netherland made products are not really seen on the Malaysian market and investments from the Netherlands are not strong in the Muslim dominated country. Calling for a world-wide boycott of the Netherlands made products does not affect Malaysian economy or investment figures. |
The ex leader called upon Muslims worldwide to boycott Dutch made products saying such a boycott could result in The Netherlands having to "close shop", as Muslims made up the wealthiest portion of the world's population and were also the biggest importers.
However, in order to be effective, all 1.3 billion Muslims in the world must unite in the boycott and put the interest of Islam and Muslims over that of individual needs.
In the past, while he was Prime Minister, Mahathir refused to call for the boycott of western products in Malaysia or elsewhere. The shift in thinking from the former PM is welcomed but to what effect it will be is yet to be seen.
"We must not be afraid of losing trade with them. If we do, then we won't be thinking as Muslims, but more for our own self interests," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation's (Perkim) 46th annual general meeting at a hotel here.
While being PM of Malaysia, Mahathir once said boycott may cause a loss of trade with the west. Some of his officials also insisted in those days that boycotting western products could only result in loss of jobs for Malays-Muslims in Malaysia since they formed part of the majority of workers in Western owned branded shops and restaurants.
Macdonalds, one of the most criticized brands in the U.S. itself for its 'unhealthy' food products, is the largest food chain in Malaysia. It is also suspected of being behind the Jewish regime in Israel, helping the Zionist regime with subventions. Macdonalds is also the only fast food brand that is allowed in U.S. camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, support U.S. troops invasion and occupation of Muslim lands.
No boycott calls has been made against Macdonalds by Malaysian officials or by Mahathir Mohamed, perhaps deliberately ignoring the impact of the food chain in its contribution to the bad health of the population and its contribution to the U.S. army and to Israel.
Coca Cola is also known for its political biasness with claims that it supports the Zionist regime in Israel. Coca Cola is one of the best sellers in Malaysia and has been as such since the time Mahathir was in power. The brand has been protected from boycott calls by pro-Palestine Malaysian activists during the time Mahathir was in power.
Another brand known worldwide for its Jewish ownership, Starbucks, is also very popular in Malaysia and is also protected from any boycott calls by officials. Hence it is questionable why a former Prime Minister would call for the boycott of products that does not really have an impact on the Malaysian market?
Netherland made products are not really seen on the Malaysian market and investments from the Netherlands are not strong in the Muslim dominated country. Calling for a world-wide boycott of the Netherlands made products does not affect Malaysian economy or investment figures. The European nation was placed only 8th in the list of major investing partner in Malaysia in 2007 with a total investment of Rm1.6 billion. In the event the Netherlands decide to boycott Malaysia due to the call by Tun Mahathir to banish Dutch trade in the Muslim world, this will have a little impact on Malaysia.
However, the rapid rise of investment from the Arab world will certainly overshadow any loss of trade and investment that may come from the Netherlands in 2008 and beyond.
To support his call for the boycott of Netherland products, Mahathir was referring to Fitna, a 15-minute film posted on a website on Thursday that highly criticized Islam, setting verses of the Quran against a background of violent images from terrorist attacks.
Dutch legislator Geert Wilders created the film, which also shows statements from radical clerics and cited verses from the Quran interspersed with images of the Sept 11 attack on the United States, the 2004 commuter train bombings in Spain and the murder later that year of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh on an Amsterdam street.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir had said the film was a result of misconceptions about Islam and there was also a "critical motive behind it".
"They will continue to do this until we show to them Islam is a good religion, that we are not violent people, that we don't tell lies to people...but this must be shown in practice by the Muslim community," he said.
On the home front, Dr Mahathir who is also Perkim president, said it was very important for Perkim to give the right impression of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims alike so that there would be no misunderstanding on the religion, which could lead to fear, suspicion or hostility against Islam. — Edited from BERNAMA feed.
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From: Nick Young (GREENPEACE) <nyoung@greenpeace.org.nz>
Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Subject: Rainbow Warrior webcast
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