Mahathir calls on Asians to resist Western domination

Mahathir calls on Asians to resist Western domination

By David Chew

JAKARTA (JP): Earlier last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad severely criticized the United States for making what he felt were baseless claims against his country on a number of controversial issues.

On March 3, following his return to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok where he attended the Asia-Europe meeting, Mahathir dismissed U.S. claims that Malaysia operated as a money laundering conduit for illegal drug trafficking between Southeast Asia and America. A week later, the tough-talking premier hit back at the U.S. 20th Annual Human Rights Report which criticized Malaysia for failing to meet U.S. human rights standards.

These two salvos are part of a larger pattern of Mahathir's frequently reported anti-Western tirades, in which he also took digs at Britain and Australia over statements their leaders made on earlier issues relating to Malaysia.

These tirades can be better explained against the wider backdrop of Mahathir's concept of nationalism on which he dwelt at some length in his book The Challenge.

Mahathir talks about the ongoing struggle for domination between the West (Europeans) and the East (Asians) which has historical roots. He explains that traditionally Europeans had subjugated and colonized Asians, citing the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Romans and later the British, Americans and others.

But sometimes Asians also hit back successfully, as Genghis Khan and Moslem rulers did in conquering parts of Europe when they were powerful.

Mahathir contends that while discipline and superior technology had enabled the West to dominate the East in earlier eras, their decline in moral values, manifested by drug addiction this century, has led to a steady erosion of their dynamism. The tide has since turned, now favoring the East with their conservative values such as diligence. The East should therefore cash in on this emerging trend.

He points out that while Western Europe and North America had been economic, political and cultural powerhouses in the past, their role is increasingly being taken over by Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and China. The focus of economic, political and cultural activities is expected to shift from America and Europe to the Asia-Pacific region in the next century.

But the West is not taking this turn of events lying down. Where they could use force a century ago to beat Asians into submission, they now resort to economic measures such as cartels and trade blocs like the European Community and North America Free Trade Association to maintain their superiority over Asians.

Mahathir has singled out the U.S. as the leader of the West which still believes in treating Asians as inferiors. He feels that U.S. criticisms of Asian countries in general and Malaysia in particular are not justified. They are based on warped perceptions rather than rational logic.

In criticizing Asian countries on a number of issues where U.S. interests are affected, Washington gives the impression that it is playing the role of an international policeman who can do no wrong. If often threatens withdrawal trade privileges to persuade Asian countries to toe its line of thinking.

In showing instances where U.S. criticism of Malaysia lacks logic, Mahathir cited President Clinton praising Malaysia for its cooperation with the U.S. in fighting global drug production and trafficking; then Washington blacklisted Malaysia, claiming it to be a transit point for the export of drugs from Southeast Asia to America.

Mahathir contended that if indeed U.S.-bound drugs passed through Malaysia, America itself was also responsible as it serves as a lucrative market for drugs.

It was also wrong for the U.S. to blame others for human rights violations when it did not practice what it preached. Mahathir cited the O.J. Simpson trial as a case where the process of justice had been thrown into grave doubt.

"Because he (Simpson) had good lawyers, he was released... not only the judge took part in the process of justice but also the media which played a role in influencing the minds of the people. Is this justice? This goes to show that there is no justice there and that human rights were clearly violated," he said.

The gist of Mahathir's arguments, which did not go down well with many Americans, was that America should keep its own house in order and practice what it preaches first before telling others what to do.

Many western countries, including the U.S., are experiencing economic slowdowns which lead to job cuts, forcing many of their nationals to seek employment in Asian countries with booming economies like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and others.

On the whole, Mahathir may have put up a convincing array of arguments to persuade Asian countries that western superiority was a thing of the past. An Asian nationalist, Mahathir would prefer Japan to take the lead in asserting Eastern superiority over the West, particularly in the field of trade and economics.

What he has in mind for Japan is the leadership of his proposed East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC), which reflects his rejection of the U.S. domination of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He feels that Japan has not only the economic muscle, but also a historical tradition in being the first Asian country to defeat a European power like Tsarist Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

Once Japan assumes this position, everything can fall nicely into place. Before long, it may be possible for other Asian countries to rid themselves of their traditional subservience to the West.

But it appears to be easier said than done. Even Dr. Mahathir himself concedes that it can be quite hard for Asians under decades of western colonialism to shed a mentality which acknowledges western superiority.

In the case of Japan's proposed leadership role, the stumbling block appears to be Tokyo's close rapport with Washington, whether in trade, politics, security or culture. These stem from post World War II developments -- and appear unshaken despite whatever differences between the two countries in recent times.

Much as Japan may want to play a leading role in the EAEC, it is constantly reminded by the U.S. not to shirk its responsibilities to APEC. Which partly explains why Japan appears to be cool towards Dr. Mahathir's overtures to join the EAEC, a move depicted by the U.S. as an attempt to split APEC into Asian and European trade blocs.

Many Asian countries, including Malaysia, still depend on the U.S. for economic progress. It cannot be denied that much of their prosperity has been due to such American aid plans as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) where their exports to the U.S. were either tax-exempt or subjected to low taxes.

Malaysia is the U.S.'s 13th largest trading partner, while the U.S. is Malaysia's second largest, and largest foreign investor. U.S.-Malaysia bilateral trade exceeds US$20 billion annually in Malaysia's favor.

Given this favorable trade scenario which Malaysia enjoys vis-a-vis the U.S., the country may be quite vulnerable to arm- twisting by the U.S. Already, certain quarters in Malaysia are nervous about the U.S. notice to withdraw Malaysia's GSP status by January 1997.

U.S. authorities like to cite grounds such as Malaysia having graduated to the status of countries like Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, which have also ceased to be GSP beneficiaries. But many Malaysian leaders feel that any withdrawal of the country's GSP status has more to do with Dr. Mahathir's vociferous criticisms of the U.S. and other non- economic reasons such as the country's alleged human rights violations.

Thus it may take a long time before Dr. Mahathir's call for Asian countries to stand up to the West, particularly the U.S., in every sense of the word, becomes a reality.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Singapore.