ISLAMABAD - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad refuses to surrender before Indian blackmailing tactics.
Malaysia is concerned about India’s new curbs on imports of palm oil after a diplomatic row, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday, but indicated he would continue to speak out against “wrong things” even if it costs his country financially.
India, the world’s biggest buyer of edible oils, last week changed rules that traders say effectively ban imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, the world’s second-biggest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia.
The move came after New Delhi objected to Mahathir criticism of India’s new religion-based citizenship law. The 94-year-old premier, whose outspoken nature 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, Mahathir said his government would find a solution.
“We are concerned of course because we sell a lot of palm oil to India, but on 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% in afternoon trade.