I agree that we should not emulate Cuba's domestic policy, but surely Dr Mahathir Mahathir should come out openly to oppose the war-mongering National Missiles Defense (NMD) System and Theatre Missiles Defense (TMD) System proposed by US' Bush administration? It is a matter of principle, and also for world peace.

Mahathir himself as a vocal critic of the west and US hegemony, once opposed foreign military presence in this region (see Zainnudin Maidin's book, The other side of Mahathir , Utusan, 1994) when he was young. Has Mahathir changed his stand and position? Has he sold out his original principle and ideals?

We must also remember that Asean is supposed to be a Zone of Peace and Neutrality (Zopan) and nuclear-free. How does this reconcile with the silence of Mahathir and his government on the crucial issue of NMD and TMD which, if implemented, would turn Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia into a nuclear arsenal targeting at our close neighbour and friend, China?

If Mahathir agrees to US war-mongering in this region by not opposing openly NMD and TMD it simply means Malaysia has actually become a de facto neo-colony of the United States.