Hitler and the man from Ottawa
Dr. Mahathir's October 16 speech at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been criticised in America and in Israel for certain comments he made about the Jews. However, neither in the US nor in Israel has he been compared with Hitler. While Hitler exterminated the Jews, Mahathir advised the Muslims to emulate them! Freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to insult and slander a distinguished statesman. Sure, the Ku Klux Klan also has the freedom of speech. They have the right to say, and they do say, the most awful things about the blacks in their own publications.
The Daily Star has tarnished its image by providing Mr. Elahi with a forum to bring ridiculous charges against Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. In his letter, Mr. Elahi makes the ludicrous claim, "He (Mahathir) is trying to find a scapegoat for his own failures." Mahathir's failures? Here is a man who transformed Malaysia from a third world country into a first world country in the course of 22 years, and Mr. Elahi calls him a "failure!" What then is success? This is as absurd as ridiculing Albert Einstein for his scientific "failures!"