KL-U.S. trade ties unharmed

KL-U.S. trade ties unharmed

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's trade ties with the United States would not be harmed by a proposed U.S. resolution for Premier Mahathir Mohamad to apologize or resign over his remarks about Jews, a minister was reported saying Saturday.

Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said the resolution was made by U.S. congressmen who have hidden motives and would not have any "negative bearing" on Malaysia's trade ties with its largest trading partner.

"The (U.S. President Bill) Clinton administration is not that stupid as to allow this group of politicians to stir up racial emotions to support their own political agenda," Lim was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

"Their action shows that they have resorted to excessive politicking and we are not going to allow them to use Malaysia to promote their own political agenda," he added.

Lim described the U.S. congressmen as "racists for passing this kind of resolution. What right have they to ask a democratically elected prime minister of a country to step down?"