Mahathir accuses U.S. of racism

Mahathir accuses U.S. of racism

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad questioned yesterday whether U.S. opposition to the East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) was due to racism.

"Why the rejection? Is it because of our color?" Mahathir said in reaction to Washington's reported opposition to the caucus within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Mahathir mooted the EAEC, which was later adopted by ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), to provide a voice for economies in the booming East Asian region.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. APEC groups ASEAN countries with others including the United States and Australia.

"Clinton's administration used to be open-minded about the EAEC, but we now hear that they have a definite stand against it," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

"We have said EAEC is not a trade bloc but a forum to give strength to small countries like Malaysia when we negotiate with other groups such as the European Union or the North America Free Trade Area (NAFTA)," he added.