Malaysia to export 5,000 cars to Iraq: Rafidah
Malaysia to export 5,000 cars to Iraq: Rafidah
Agence France-Presse, Manila
Malaysian carmaker Proton will export 5,000 cars to Iraq in
August after selling a similar number to the embattled country
last year, Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said here
Monday.
She said Malaysia was prepared to sell Iraq buses and trucks
if requested.
"We shouldn't stop doing business with Iraq or with anybody
else for that matter so long as it is within the ambit of what is
provided for under the United Nations," Rafidah told reporters in
the Philippines capital on the first stop of a three nation tour,
also covering Indonesia and Thailand.
"For us, even if there is a war in Iraq, we will like to
continue to establish long term relationships with Iraq but of
course our prayer is there is no war so that they can get going
with nation building," she said.
Rafidah said Iraqi imports of Malaysian cars was part of
Baghdad's efforts to improve its infrastructure.
"So, they are not killing their people or condemning their
people as some people think. I have been to Iraq -- it is country
that is struggling within the sanctions constraint to give what
they can give to the people," she said.
Rafidah said Malaysia would continue to seek non-military
contracts in Iraq.
"They want to buy buses from us, we can supply, they want to
buy trucks, we can supply. For us, as long as it within the ambit
of the UN, we will do it," she added.
Malaysia opposes any U.S.-led strike on Iraq.
Washington accuses Baghdad of hiding weapons of mass
destruction.
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had said that Kuala Lumpur
will not support a war against Iraq even if the United Nations
Security Council gives the go-ahead.
Rafidah said Monday that the implications of any U.S.-led war
on Iraq would be "much, much greater" than the 1991 conflict.
"Certainly, this time there will be responses from people who
just are dead against this incursion into Iraq. God knows how
they will respond," she said, predicting trade, tourism and
investment disruptions fueled by rapid oil price increases.
"There will be Muslim versus non-Muslim implications,
implications of those who don't want war, and terrorism -- all
snowballed into one configuration," Rafidah said.
Her trade mission to the three Southeast Asian neighbors is to
explore joint ventures and enhance trade.