Perhaps someone should take some time to explain to our dear Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that a Jew is not necessarily a Zionist by birth, just as all Muslims are not terrorists.

While he blows hot in every interview about how collective judgement by the west and the

subsequent categorisation of all Muslims as terrorists is wrong, Mahathir proves yet again that he is all talk, and nothing else:

"There only about 13 million Jews worldwide but they want to control the world, not because of their religion but because of their Zionist inclination; and they do it by capturing the most powerful nation, that is, the United States."

This line sounds like it was coming from the likes of Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering but alas, it is the very vitriol being spewed by the incoming chairperson of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

Then again, we in Malaysia are by now very used to his use of bigotry hidden in religious and cultural obligations to lay blame of every single misfortune at the feet of everyone else, bar himself. Why, even God himself has not been spared the parcel of blame in Mahathir's hand-picked cabinet.

Mahathir does not control the international media, and cannot hope that they will treat him with kid gloves the way our local docile media blanks out his bigot statements and mannerisms. The use of insensitive and derogatory terms like 'bayee' and 'keling' in our parliament is rampant, but never gets its due negative publicity, for Mahathir and his men control the sheep-like press corps of Malaysia.

The same however does not apply to the likes of the international agencies, and Mahathir's bigoted statements will surely be carried internationally.

I shudder that while the west is in control militarily and politically, there are many who are against bigotry towards Muslims and Arabs - and as such, temper the inclination of their own hawks.

In the case of Mahathir, there are no Arabs or Muslims who speak out against such blind hatred and bigotry.

Perhaps then, the neutrals are right, that the status quo of the western might should prevail, so that the likes of Mahathir and his brethren should never be given international power over others.