KL protests over U.S. drug trafficking list

KL protests over U.S. drug trafficking list

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Kuala Lumpur has protested the U.S. President's inclusion of Malaysia in a list of 31 countries accused of supporting drug trafficking, claiming it had only just been praised for its tough stance on drugs, reports said yesterday.

"I wish the U.S. government would make up its mind," Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayub was quoted saying by the Sun daily.

Megat Junid said the American Central Intelligence Agency and the Drug Enforcement Agency had last year commended Malaysia for dealing effectively with drug traffickers.

Those convicted of drug trafficking in Malaysia receive a mandatory death sentence.

"This is very serious as it involves our image, stature and standing within the international community," Megat Junid said.

U.S. President Bill Clinton's list, required under the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to assess eligibility for U.S. aid, named 31 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Middle East as "major illicit drug producing or drug transit countries".

The U.S. embassy here yesterday assured Malaysia that inclusion in the president's list did not necessarily imply local authorities were slacking in their anti-drug drive.

"Inclusion on a list of transit countries does not mean the government is not taking forceful efforts to counteract drug trafficking," the embassy said in a statement.

Police here defended the effectiveness of Malaysia's drug- fighting program.

"But we have to live with the fact that Malaysia is a drug transit country because of our proximity to the Golden Triangle," Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samsuri Arshad said.

The opium-producing Golden Triangle encompasses Malaysia's northern neighbors -- Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.