BOYCOTT UP TO INDIVIDUALS, SAYS M`SIAN DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said it
was up to individuals whether to boycott American products to show their protest
against the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

"Let it be an individual choice.

"Some of them feel very strongly about it and while others look at it as a
grey area because it is a complex matter and involves local businesses," he told
a press conference after opening the Third Islamic Economic Congress at Dewan
Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre, here Monday.

He was commenting on the call to boycott three major American brands, namely
Starbucks, Coca-Cola and Colgate by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia
and other non-governmental organisations on Friday.

Naib said the matter was complex because it involved local businessmen who
ran the franchises.

On the report by online news portal the Malaysian Insider that opposition
Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (Pas) was trying to picture United Malays
National Organisation (Umno) as a racist party, he said: "Umno is not an extreme
party because we have always adopted very moderate and very pragmatic policies
in this country.

"What is important is to judge Umno on our policies, not on the basis of any
statements because statements from individuals do not constitute a policy."

He also described Pas' action as "a real opportunistic play."

On another media report that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is in
Malaysia, Najib said: "Oh really? I don't know that he is here.

"Let me find out if he is really in Malaysia; maybe it is just a
speculation; don't say it is bad for Malaysia until we know for sure that he is
here."
-- BERNAMA