In its June 22 issue, the International Herald Trubune reports from AP and AFP wire dispatches that Mahathir has lashed out in a "stern and hectoring" two-hour speech against not only white foreigners but also "idiot" Malaysian voters.

According to he report, Mahathir said,"Foreigners who once colonised us, who have done nothing to help us, these foreigners have no good intentions," he said. "They hate Malaysia, especially the current leadership, and hate it extremely."

He did not direct his attack at any specific country or countries, but he said that his government was loathed for "exposing their evil intent when they introduced the concept of globalisation and a borderless world."

"Globalisation's aim is to dominate the world through Western economic might, he asserted, adding: "It is only idiots, who always idolise the whites, who will not recognise all this."

Since the speech was televised, I imagine the Tribune is not lying. The question is, why is there no discussion of these racist, grossly insulting and, quite frankly, half-insane remarks in the June 22 issue of malaysiakini ?

My second question is, where was Malaysia's anti-globalisation empathy 10 to 12 years ago when the Japanese were buying up Rockefeller Center, several Hollywood studios and every other prime piece of real estate and business they could snatch up in the US? Could it be that for many Malaysians, it is simply a matter that Japanese economic imperialism is good, and the Western globalism is bad?