I am ashamed to hear Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying every now and then that oil should be used as a weapon to counter the alleged oppression of Islam and Islamic nations. Does he really think this benefits the Islamic oil-producing countries when all that most of these countries have is oil and little else?

Does he really believe that the so-called oppressors will just suffer in silence and not launch a counter-offensive? What happens if all trading nations are forced at the risk of their own survival to follow a planned trade embargo on oil-producing nations? Can these oil-producing nations feed their people with oil?

Can Malaysia send enough wheat and other foodstuff to these countries if there is an embargo? Does he (the PM) really believe that the so-called oppressors do not have better bargaining power? It may very well end up with the oil-producing countries paying a heftier price for using oil as a weapon. Is Mahathir leading these oil-producing nations to collapse?

Anyway, what oppression is he talking about? Fighting terrorism is not oppression. Many Muslims and non-Muslims alike have suffered at the hands of these cruel terrorists. In Afghanistan, it was the Muslims who were oppressing their own people.

Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network were terrorising the people not only in Afghanistan but also in Indonesia, Philippines and elsewhere.

Did Malaysia feel sad when terrorists bombed Bali? No, they said it was 'unfortunate' that the bombers were Muslims. So, if action is eventually taken on these Muslim groups, will Malaysia immediately claim 'oppression', and demand that the world has to look at the 'root cause'.

We can all go look at the 'root cause', but are we to allow the terrorists to carry on bombing and let them go unpunished? Will Mahathir allow that in his own country? Can all oppressed in Malaysia do what they like and no punishment be meted out on them if found guilty? Can we pardon murderers because we have to look at the 'root cause' for their behaviour?

Mahathir should stop passing all these unwarranted remarks and concentrate on how we can get foreign investments to build our ailing economy. The least a prime minister elected by Malaysians can do is to encourage more investments into the country and to increase trade for its citizens. If our economy fails because of his action, will he blame 'oppression'?

Remember, not all in the country believe that the global fight against terrorism is oppression against Islam.