by Wan Kamal Wan Napi

For years the Asia Pacific region was considered by the West as the future consumer market. This belief was brought about by the fact that in the past the East provided the raw materials, and the West turned these raw materials into manufactured goods. With the increasing prosperity of the East, more and more Western-manufactured goods were being bought by its people. Indeed, over the years, the East developed a culture of buying West-branded goods.

However, many goods today are actually manufactured in the East, branded and re-packed in the West, then re-exported to the East. Just visit the Famous Barr department store in University Mall, and do not be surprised to see a nice looking Polo shirt labeled Made in Malaysia or some other country.

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In a matter of weeks, while things were going so well in both the West and the East, fund managers and currency speculators have actually caused economic ruin to both. How does this happen? Well, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The ASEAN agreed to bring in Burma, which caused a disagreement with the United States because of Burma’s reputation as a violator of human rights.

I will only address Malaysia, my home country, however, rather than all of Southeast Asia. In Malaysia’s case I say padan muka (literally, suit in your face), the Malay colloquialism for serves you right. It appears the United States and Malaysia are going through some choppy waters of late.

First is the issue of 34 Congressmen, led by U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., who have tabled a draft resolution. The resolution demands an apology or the resignation of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, because of his alleged remark that the current financial problems in Malaysia and Southeast Asia are the result of a Jewish conspiracy. Second is the issue of a U.S. administration investigating Petronas (Malaysia Petroleum National) because of its dealing with Iran. Iran is regarded by the United States as an undesirable regime, purpoted to be sympathetic to certain terrorist organizations.

The U.S. Congress consists of the House of Representatives with 435 members and the Senate which has 100 members, bringing the total to 535. Therefore, the opinion of 34 members would be a small minority and certainly not reflective of the opinion of the government of the United States. Furthermore, a draft resolution such as this would have to pass through many stages before it attains some meaning. It is a long process, and judging from the support it received so far, seems to me to be doomed to be an on-starter.

I believed our Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir was not anti-Semitic in his remarks; it is just coincidence the person he took exception to, George Soros, happens to be an ethnic Jew. The possibility of fanciful ideas materializing in the U.S. system of government is remote. I am confident the more responsible majority that represents the U.S. administration will surely look at this in a mature and objective fashion. This is probably nothing more than a storm in a teacup. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

The second matter has more serious implications. American allergy to companies and governments doing business with its arch-enemy, Iran, stems from the ugly incidents that followed the over-throw of the late Shah in 1979, and the aftermath where the U.S. Embassy staff in Teheran were held hostage for more than a year. Since then, relations between the two have been far from cordial, and negative sentiments against each other have been running high. The United States has linked many terrorist-related incidents to Iranian sponsorship, and Iran has always maintained that America, or The Great Satan, is out to get them.

The fact of the matter is the issues involve the United States and Iran. It has nothing to do with other countries, much less, foreign firms. To penalize a third party in this ongoing conflict would seem unnecessarily vindictive and immature. By investing in Iran, Petronas certainly is not aiding or abetting the Iranians to annihilate the United States or its citizens. They are not even interested. After all, Iran has not sulked over anyone dealing with the Unites States. The greatest power on earth knows there is little lesser nations can do to counter its maneuvers, but it must realize there is even more greatness in magnanimity and tolerance.

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