Australian columnist and Asian business expert Michael Backman has defended his right to comment on Malaysian affairs.

He was responding to hundreds of e-mails to his article 'While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry' published on Nov 15 in the Melbourne-based daily, The Age .

The article, which was critical of the Malaysian government, drew flak from International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.

"What do we care? Obviously, this person doesn't know Malaysia. He is an outsider and he can say what he likes. I don't really care about what others say as long as it is not a Malaysian saying it," she said over the weekend.

In a response posted on his website , Backman said: "Of course my views are just that: my views. But I have spent most of my adult life analysing and writing about Asia. I am direct and critical; I do not veil my criticisms because I don't want to waste my time or yours with readers trying to guess what I really mean."

"Open debate is absolutely critical for all modern, dynamic countries. The free flow of ideas and information helps to make countries rich. Political leaders cannot do everything on their own be they in the UK, Australia or Malaysia. They need help," he added.

Biggest problems

According to him, Malaysia's biggest problems were 'waste and lack of transparency'.

"Too little account is made of how other people's money is spent. The police too are way too corrupt for a country as developed as Malaysia.

"...Malaysia's first astronaut will be playing batu seremban and spinning tops and making teh tarik while in space. There are countless scientists around the world who would give anything for the opportunity to go to space and do real experiments.

"For the Malaysian government to send an astronaut into space to play Malay children's games serves only to re-emphasise my point about waste.

"The world is getting more clever, more competitive and more dynamic every day. There are too many in Malaysia who don't seem to understand this," he said in his website.

'Malaysia Bodoh'

As for his article in the Age, Backman defended it as 'constructive criticism'. The writer said he has penned positive things about Malaysia in the past.

He said he had described Malaysia as more politically mature and developed than Singapore, and that Malaysians are entrepreneurial, citing AirAsia as an example.

Backman added that as a non-Malaysian he had the right to comment on the country's affairs because "Malaysian political leaders and commentators routinely comment about other countries."

"I will write another column about Malaysia soon," he said.

In his article, published in the business section of the Australian daily, Backman described some of the government-endorsed projects as publicity stunts and termed them 'Malaysia Bodoh'.

Backman, who resides in London, is the author of several best selling books.