Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Non-Tech : Invest / LTD -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thean who wrote (5419)	11/16/1998 2:47:00 PM
From: Thean	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14427

I don't know how you guys feel but I'm enraged as well after reading the article below. I wonder why Gore thought he has earned the right to make such a thoughtless, rude speech. This is blasphomy. LT - now I fully understand why you are so unpatriotic. Imagine what the reaction of this country would be if another country call on the brave people of the US to vote out its adulterous president. -------- APEC-FOCUS-U.S. enrages Malaysia with reform call (Updates with Malaysia reaction, Clinton endorsement) By Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday saluted ''brave people'' supporting an anti-government movement in Malaysia in a stinging rebuke to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad promptly denounced as ''disgusting.'' Vice President Al Gore, in a speech in Malaysia's capital, lauded protesters calling for ''reformasi'' (reform) -- the rallying cry of supporters of detained former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim who have held street protests since September. ''Democracy confers a stamp of legitimacy that reforms must have in order to be effective,'' said Gore, standing in for President Bill Clinton who cancelled his trip to the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. ''And so, among nations suffering economic crises, we continue to hear calls for democracy, calls for reform in many languages -- People's Power, Doi Moi, Reformasi. We hear them today -- right here, right now -- among the brave people of Malaysia.'' The White House later said Gore's comments reflected the views of President Bill Clinton, who skipped the APEC summit to monitor a standoff with Iraq over weapons inspections. Washington's blunt endorsement of Malaysia's ''reformasi'' movement drew an immediate denunciation by Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz, who said the address had ''completely spoiled'' the APEC summit before it had even started. ''It is the most disgusting speech I have ever heard in my life. I hope I never live to hear another one again from anyone like that,'' Rafidah told reporters. ''Unfortunately there are narrow-minded people. Certainly that reflects unabashed intervention in our country. Unfortunately, he doesn't even understand what is going on in this country,'' she said. ''We do expect lectures...we do that all the time. But not to run down the countries and incite things.'' Mahathir declined comment on the speech but was overheard telling people: ''I've never seen anybody so rude.'' Clinton and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi later unveiled a $10 billion package for Asia including $5 billion in U.S. assistance. Asked to comment on the U.S. aid, Rafidah said: "I don't care. To me it's not worth five cents. As Gore spoke to more than 1,000 business leaders, about 150 riot police with tracker dogs ringed the conference hall in anticipation of a possible protest by Anwar supporters. Police parked a water cannon truck outside a hotel, across a street from the conference hall, where Philippine President Joseph Estrada met Anwar's after Gore's speech. Anti-government protesters calling on Mahathir to quit mounted three demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend as APEC leaders arrived in the capital. Anwar was arrested in September after leading thousands of supporters through Kuala Lumpur shouting ''reformasi'' and clamouring for Mahathir to quit after 17 years in power. Gore's remarks marked a startling departure from APEC's tradition of non-interference and came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Anwar's wife in a controversial show of solidarity and censure of Mahathir. Rafidah had a sharp exchange at a news conference with Albright on the issue. Mahathir has condemned meetings with Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as meddling in Malaysia's affairs. Malaysian officials said Australian Prime Minister John Howard was the only APEC leader to mention Anwar among eight who held bilateral talks with Mahathir on Monday. Rafidah said numerous businessmen attending Monday's dinner came up to her after Gore's speech and said they were sorry she had to listen to the address. Clinton, who decided to stay in Washington to monitor a crisis with Iraq over weapons inspections, had said he would not hold a bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Mahathir to underscore his concern over Anwar. After his speech, an unsmiling Gore offered a brief handshake to Mahathir, stooping over his dinner table. Mahathir smiled weakly, half standing up as he took Gore's hand. Gore then left as seven other leaders stayed to eat. A business leader close to Mahathir chided Gore. ''I'm very, very disappointed in the inability to understand and the superficial overview of what's happening in this country,'' Francis Yeoh, head of construction and power giant YTL Corp Bhd chief, told reporters. ''Such a broad brush approach is very disappointing to a lot of us who are working very, very hard to foster understanding.''