Umno Youth is doubtful whether Malaysian police are able to take effective action if a report is lodged by them against US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for leading the war o­n Iraq.

Even if Umno Youth lodges a police report, it is unlikely to see any follow-up action, the wing's assistant secretary, Zulkifli Alwi (photo) said today.


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"If we lodge a report to the Malaysian police, can they act?" he replied when asked by malaysiakini whether Umno Youth has lodged a report as they had originally intended to.

"Even if the police take the report, can our courts be able to act effectively too?" he asked.

International channels

Zulkifli said that Umno Youth would consider using international channels, such as bringing the matter to the Federation of International Lawyers or the International Criminal Court.

He added such a move to charge Bush, Blair and Australian Prime Minister John Howard has also been initiated by lawyers from their own countries.

"Even their own people believe that their leaders have been committing a wrong act," he said.

Zulkifli said Umno Youth will work together with these concerned groups overseas to achieve the objective of taking those leaders to face justice.

"We are currently liaising with them o­n how to pursue the matter," he said adding that it was important to get as many people as possible involved as those leaders had committed a major crime by waging war against another nation.

Zulkifli pointed out it is clear now that the war is illegal after the US-led coalition decided o­n a unilateral decision without adhering to the voices of others and without United Nations' sanction.

No respect

Last week, Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein (left) announced that the wing will initiate legal action against leaders of the countries involved in the invasion of Iraq.

He said the drastic action was not meant to cause problems for Americans and Britons, but that it was necessary because the leaders of their countries have shown no respect for international law.

"There should not be double standards or hypocrisy in matters pertaining to universal issues. Action is needed because people are dying, the US is acting unilaterally and it is not concerned about (other) voices in the world," he said.

US has sent 250,000 troops to the Gulf states, while Britain (with 40,000 troops) and Australia (2,000) have joined the war which began o­n March 20.

At the press conference today, Zulkifli announced that Aman Malaysia will be sending three representatives for a fact-finding mission and to assist o­n humanitarian aid o­n the Iraq-Iran border. The three will leave for Iran tonight.

Report by lawyer

Meanwhile, the Malay Mail reported today that Petaling Jaya police are cracking their heads trying to figure out what to do o­n the police report lodged by a Malaysian lawyer, Navin C Naidu, against Bush.

Navin who lodged the report at the Subang Jaya police station o­n Monday has accused Bush of murder and genocide, and inciting racial hatred against the Muslims by waging war o­n Iraq.

Petaling Jaya deputy police chief Supt Zohdi Hanafiah was quoted as saying that "there is nothing much police can do about the report as it was lodged against the head of a foreign government.

"Perhaps, we might just refer it to the US Embassy or pass it o­n to Interpol", he added.