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.