PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW REASONS TO BOYCOTT AMERICAN PRODUCTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The people have the rights to boycott
American goods although the government may not do so, said principal fellow with
the Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Muhammad
Salleh Majid.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia) is a public
university located in Bangi, Selangor which is about 35 km south of Kuala
Lumpur.

He said if the people were to do so, they should know the reasons for the
boycott, otherwise it would serve no purpose.

"They should not do it blindly and they should also be prepared for the
consequences. The intention must be firm and clear," the former president of the
then Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (Malaysia Exchange) told Bernama Tuesday.

Muhammad Salleh said Malaysia was capable of boycotting American products
just like in the early 1980s when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad
launched the "Buy British Last" campaign.

"Likewise, we can do a similar campaign or stop using the USD and switch to
Euro.

"There are 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe compared to 14 million
Jews and we ought to stick together to fight them," said Muhammad Salleh.

On the United Nations' resolution on the Israeli invasion of Gaza, he said,
"the UN is a lame duck. Too much belong to the Jews... Hollywood, the media...
the list goes on and on. We must not touch, buy or use Jewish products."

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) secretary-general Dr
Ma'mor Osman said the people should boycott American products although it was
their choice.

"We should detest the dehumanisation and incursion which threaten world
peace. Those devoid of human norms do not care the pain inflicted on others," he
said.

Malaysian should continue develop food chains and products while the people
should give preference to local products, he said, adding that Malaysians should
emulate South Koreans and Japanese who support local goods.

-- BERNAMA