Aiding the Enemy

(11/25/2002)

Dato Paduka Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Sheikh Fadzir, the Malaysian Minister for Culture, Art and Tourism has sounded a warning to the West that the current series of travel advisories issued against developing countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, renders those making such warnings into becoming unintentional terrorists.

Explaining that terrorism is an international problem, Datok Abdul Kadir reminded western powers that travel advisories against friendly nations are the moral equivalent of economic sabotage in terms of the damage they inflict on their economies. He went on to ask developed nations to be more supportive of modernization efforts underway in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and not brand these countries as havens for terrorism or stigmatize them for their majority religious beliefs.

Malaysia's Minister for Culture, Art and Tourism in his remarks made at the opening of the Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival opening in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, also called on ASEAN member nations to unite in their response to western travel advisories and warnings.