Malaysian media slam Aussie PM

Malaysian media slam Aussie PM

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's opposition leader and a leading progovernment newspaper united on Tuesday in pouring scorn on Australian Prime Minister John Howard following his apparent about-turn on Canberra's regional policeman role.

The New Straits Times said last week's disclosure in a magazine interview of a "Howard Doctrine" of playing deputy sheriff to the United States in Asia was now "the doctrine that never was" following his clarification to parliament on Monday.

"So this is just another blunder. The Howard Doctrine is now Howard's Howler," an editorial said.

It said Howard could encourage "psychopathic nationalists" if he tried to use the East Timor crisis to assume a greater leadership role in Asia.