Malaysian Gov't Urged To Ban Halliburton
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday slammed the government's move to allow U.S. energy company Halliburton Co. to begin operating in Malaysia, saying the country doesn't need "blood money."
"It is appalling that we have allowed this war-profiteering company to invest in Malaysia," he said in a statement, referring to Halliburton's contracts in Iraq for the U.S. government. "Are we so void of our humanity that we have to allow these war criminals to come in and thrive in our economy?"
Mahathir, who remains a respected figure in the Islamic world after his retirement in 2003 after 22 years in power, urged the government to ban Halliburton from using their "ill-gotten profits to operate in any way" in Malaysia.
Halliburton recently launched a 200 million ringgit ($62.5 million) manufacturing center in the Iskandar Malaysia economic hub in southern Johor state.
Mahathir, a vocal critic of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, accused Halliburton, once led by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, of raking in billions of dollars in profits from the Iraq war.
"Do we really need the blood money of a neo-conservative entity that has played a role in the murder of innocent Iraqis to fund our development?" he said.
He described Cheney and U.S. President George W. Bush as "war criminals" who should be put on trial for the Iraq war. Mahathir now heads the Perdana Global Peace Organization, a private group.
Iskandar Malaysia chief Ikmal Hijaz Hashim has defended Halliburton's investment, saying it will create jobs and benefit the country. The Iskandar hub is among five massive development programs nationwide by the government to woo investment and spur growth in rural areas.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "It is appalling that we have allowed this war-profiteering company to invest in Malaysia," he said in a statement, referring to Halliburton's contracts in Iraq for the U.S. government. "Are we so void of our humanity that we have to allow these war criminals to come in and thrive in our economy?"
Mahathir, who remains a respected figure in the Islamic world after his retirement in 2003 after 22 years in power, urged the government to ban Halliburton from using their "ill-gotten profits to operate in any way" in Malaysia.
Halliburton recently launched a 200 million ringgit ($62.5 million) manufacturing center in the Iskandar Malaysia economic hub in southern Johor state.
Mahathir, a vocal critic of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, accused Halliburton, once led by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, of raking in billions of dollars in profits from the Iraq war.
Halliburton's stock price surged from $10 before the war to around $46 now after the company won a series of contracts in Iraq amounting to nearly $20 billion, he said.
"Do we really need the blood money of a neo-conservative entity that has played a role in the murder of innocent Iraqis to fund our development?" he said.
He described Cheney and U.S. President George W. Bush as "war criminals" who should be put on trial for the Iraq war. Mahathir now heads the Perdana Global Peace Organization, a private group.
Iskandar Malaysia chief Ikmal Hijaz Hashim has defended Halliburton's investment, saying it will create jobs and benefit the country. The Iskandar hub is among five massive development programs nationwide by the government to woo investment and spur growth in rural areas.
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Posted by sracilis at 08:32 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse
I don''t agree. I believe nations the WORLD over will start to reject this company and boycott their services. I also think you should have attended your last Nazi Youth Meeting... the Reich put out the advisory about the age''s old Nazi trick of Guilt by Association. Let me catch you up, YOU have to many evil and very Trashy People in YOUR camp to condemn the other guy for ONE person. I mean when you look at and compare what Craig did to those simple minded Freakvangelist?? Well point is it''s not working and the Reich has pretty much given up on that noise. Now stand and let the fuhrer know you''re out here licking those boots!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Dumb as a box of rocks
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Posted by downsteamjim at 09:21 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse
Typical Nazi! Can''t justify or substantuate the LIE so??? Try to appear superior and RUN LIKE HELL!! ROFLMAO Stupid bootlickers are funny!! ROFLMAO Not very smart but FUNNY!! SIEG HEIL BUSH
How come you never answered by question? You said Democrats had blocked the building of refineries and had driven up the price of oil. You ran away from the last thread without offering proof of your allegations.
So I guess we can say you''''re just another Republican liar, eh?
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Posted by jumkey at 04:22 PM : May 18, 2008
+ report abuse
Yes and I''d like an answer on that one too! TODAY our refineries are only running at 85% as they stand now... I''m really interested in where this Bootlicker say''s he got this info. LOL Sieg Heil Bush
May allah Bless Mr Mahathir. SG "EGYPT"
May allah Bless Mr Mahathir. SG "EGYPT"
May allah Bless Mr Mahathir. SG "EGYPT"