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Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the U.S.A. preparation and deployment of the armed forces against terrorists and their sanctuaries. 21.9.2001.

The advent of the 21st century sees the terrorism on the World Trade
Centre and Pentagon on September 11, 2001. This sparks off American anger and grief and world sympathy. We condemn the dastard act.

President Bush Jr has the mandate from the aggrieved U.S.A. to destroy
terrorists anywhere on earth. These terrorists are faceless.

America committed troops to other conflicts such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Desert Storm against Saddam Hussein. She aimed at definite targets. Now, she has difficulties in tracking down the elusive terrorists. She suspects Osama Bin Laden whose sanctuary is Afghanistan. Osama denies being involved in the terrorism. The media report that Afghan clerics have asked Osama to leave the country. Bush says it is not enough.

World Summit

Being the superpower, America has the resources to vent her anger.
Bush has US$40 billion and more to overcome the calamity and to pursue the culprits. The terrorism and the American response have serious effects on the economy and security of the world.

The Malaysian Government must review the security and the economy of the country and the region. We have to get rid of extremism in Malaysia. We must also cooperate with other countries to eradicate it.

The Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have proposed a world summit on terrorism respectively. Although America is too preoccupied with actions to assuage her people, we must find ways and means to convince her against harming civilian population. One way is the world summit.

As Malaysia is a small country, she must cooperate with other countries
to convene the world conference with American participation. We hope that America will take heed. Just as we don't like to see innocent Americans hurt, we also don't like to witness other innocent people harmed. How long will the anti-terrorist war take? Does President Bush know? He says that those who are not with America are against America on terrorism. How does he regard those who are against terrorism, but are not for all the anti-terrorist methods used by America?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw