ISLAMABAD – Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad refuses to surrenderbefore Indian blackmailing tactics.
Malaysia is concerned about India’s new curbs on imports of palm oil aftera diplomatic row, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday, butindicated he would continue to speak out against “wrong things” even if itcosts his country financially.
India, the world’s biggest buyer of edible oils, last week changed rulesthat traders say effectively ban imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia,the world’s second-biggest producer and exporter of palm oil afterIndonesia.
The move came after New Delhi objected to Mahathir criticism of India’s newreligion-based citizenship law. The 94-year-old premier, whose outspokennature has soured ties with both India and Saudi Arabia in recent months,earlier accused India of invading Kashmir.
As Malaysian palm refiners stare at a massive loss of business, Mahathirsaid his government would find a solution.
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“We are concerned of course because we sell a lot of palm oil to India, buton the other hand we need to be frank and see that if something goes wrong,we will have to say it,” he told reporters.
“If we allow things to go wrong and think only about the money involved,then I think a lot of wrong things will be done, by us and by other people.”
The benchmark palm oil contract for March delivery was down 0.9% inafternoon trade.
