Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement regarding Australia is normal. What is not normal is his silence on the action of the Japanese government who recently advised a group of exchange students from coming to Malaysia because it perceived a threat here.

If Mahathir wants people to take him seriously he has to be fair in all his condemnations and not just pick on people or countries whom he dislikes.

I find Mahathir's warning to Muslims not to travel to Australia perplexing. Has he forgotten that not too long ago boatloads of Muslims claiming to be refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq risked their lives to try to gain entry into Australia?

Why did they not just go over to Saudi Arabia or its neighbours like Pakistan or Iran, also Islamic countries?

In fact, before they boarded their boats to Australia they travelled to Malaysia because of its visa-free entry policy, and then continued on to Indonesia where many of them boarded their junks.

Has Mahathir ever wondered why these Muslim refugees bypassed Malaysia and Indonesia, on their perilous journey to find a better life in Australia?

Before scolding Australia, Mahathir should take out his atlas and look at the distance these destitute people travelled and the seas and oceans they sailed across.

Surely Australia was not an accidental landfall but a destination carefully selected over so many other Islamic governments?

Mahathir should travel to Australia and interview some of these refugees or better still invite them back to Malaysia.