Aizuddin Danian said by letting a Malaysian accept the Iraq oil chief job, "Malaysia's position in global politics would be greatly enhanced."

Obviously some Malaysians do not have the opportunity to travel a lot outside the country and see for themselves how even the western Europeans deplore the Blair-Bush agenda.

I have attended the anti-war rallies in Paris and London. My sister has attended the o­ne in Madrid. Their politicians might be supporting Bush, but most people here agree the war sucks, that the whole thing smells like petrol and that it's a brilliant advertisement for more recruits for future Sept 11 projects.

Of course I want Malaysia to be known as a moderate Muslim country. Moderate because we are tolerant, because we embrace multiculturalism, because we don't have hang-ups about other cultures and religions, because we are not afraid of expressing opinions openly and because when we do express our opinions openly we don't have to do time for it.

I don't want Malaysia to get the pat o­n the head for pandering to westerners and western ideals. What makes Aizuddin think that the West will respect us when we suck up to the West? Think of Turkey - still not admitted into the European Union, their citizens still not Europeans despite their efforts to be recognised as such - or the Gulf states, still treated with suspicion and contempt by their own western 'friends'.

We should help the Iraqis rebuild their country and their self-esteem, not build a fortune o­n the back of murder, bigotry and capitalism. The Japanese and the Germans could start all over again, so could the Iraqis. Enhancing o­ne's global position is not about having a fellow countryperson as a token Muslim/coloured person in a token (impotent) international role. And it's not just about scoring high o­n the GDP chart. Respect should take more than that.