The insensitive, puzzling policy of tightened visa checks to U.S.
The insensitive, puzzling policy of tightened visa checks to U.S.
V.K. Chin, The Star, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur
For obvious reasons, Malaysia is puzzled by the decision to subject Malaysian men between the ages of 16 and 45 to stricter background checks when applying for a visa to visit the United States.
The State Department has imposed this restriction on 25 Muslim majority nations including Malaysia though Secretary of State Colin Powell has pointed out that this would only be a temporary measure.
Washington is sending the wrong signals to the Muslim nations especially those that are pro-U.S. and moderate in their policies.
It flies against the claim by President George W. Bush that his administration's war on terror was aimed at the Muslim terrorists and not Islam itself.
By this act alone, the Islamic world will no longer be convinced that its religion is not under threat or that it is not the target in Washington's war against terror.
Even though the move might be temporary, the damage has already been done.
The chances are that this new policy will be in force for some time to come.
It is difficult to understand what the U.S. is trying to do.
There is really no need for Washington to announce this policy openly as issuing visas is its prerogative. It is the right of every government to deny any visitor entry without giving any ground for rejecting the application.
It must be said that the Bush administration has the knack for offending its foes and friends alike and it does not seem to care about world reaction to its conflicting policies.
The latest decision is a diplomatic disaster where the Islamic states are concerned.
It is insensitive and it is obvious that the American politicians, be they Republicans or Democrats, have a lot to learn in dealing with the world. But then as the only world superpower both economically and militarily, it could afford to thump its nose at anyone.
But there is no doubt that the Americans will get away with this latest antagonism against almost a billion of the world's population.
It has managed to do this before and there is no reason why the present situation is any different. Yet they find it difficult to understand why theirs is such a misunderstood nation.
The world will have to live with the United States or else as the Americans realize that no government can do anything to stop them from having their way.
They have enough economic and military muscle to do damage control later on.
What can the Malaysian government do about this latest unkind cut? Nothing much except to take it in its stride.
No government is powerful enough to retaliate and all that the affected countries can do is to hope that the Americans will realize the folly of their decision and rescind it.
The only appropriate action Malaysians can take is to avoid traveling to the U.S. for the time being unless they have urgent business there.
Why visit a country as a tourist where you are not made to feel welcome or worse still be suspected as a potential terrorist?
Why subject yourself to humiliation and even the possibility of being detained arbitrarily because the U.S. security people suspect that you could be involved with some terrorist organization out to do harm to the U.S. and its citizens?
After all there are so many other more friendly countries you can go to and have a nice holiday without worrying about your safety.