Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, May 17, 2003
United States Afraid of its Own Shadow: Mahathir
The United States' advisory warning its citizens against visiting Malaysia indicated its fear of own shadow as a result of its cruel actions abroad, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday.
The United States' advisory warning its citizens against visiting Malaysia indicated its fear of own shadow as a result of its cruel actions abroad, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday.
Malaysia, especially Sabah was actually enjoying peace and security with the situation under control and there were no riots,the prime minister said at a meeting in Sabah, east Malaysia.
"On my arrival here, I see peace and security, there're no riots. But today we read in the newspapers that in Malaysia, especially in Sabah, there're terrorists planning to explode bombs to kill their (US) citizens," said Mahathir who is on a one-day visit in Sabah.
Mahathir said that the move taken by the United States was like "tyrants in fear, like (deposed Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein who're afraid of his own people."
Washington issued a warning last Wednesday that terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network may be planning new attacks on US citizens and interests in Malaysia, particularly in Sabah.
Mahathir gave an assurance that the Americans were safe in Malaysia.
"We have security forces adequate enough to maintain peace and security in the country," he said.
The United States had been cruel against many innocent people in this world and as a result of their actions, they were in fear and would pay for the cruelty they had committed, he said.
"We in Malaysia do not resort to cruelty against our people. We've developed the country and the people are free to move about and this is the style of the Barisan Nasional government which is elected by the people and serves the people," he added.