Activists shout anti-U.S. slogans to protest Bolton’s visit to Manila

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL South East Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, January 8 (IslamOnline) – U.S. Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton was issued a strong anti-war message by Malaysia while touring the South East Asian region in an attempt to drum up support for an upcoming U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The top U.S. defense official was told by Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid Albar that his country was not in favor of war against Iraq, Bernama News Agency reported Wednesday, January 8.

He added that while Malaysia wanted Iraq to comply with U.N. disarmament resolutions, a war would not be popular among Muslim countries or developing nations.

The official toured the Philippines last week and urged Manila to at least give some minimal support to the U.S. in its intended war against Baghdad.

Manila has yet to respond, with the political situation in the country taking a turn around since the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) by Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Opposition groups intent on joining the government opposes all forms of support to the US in a war which a majority of the Philippines believe is not their.

Manila also believe that Arab states are friendly states and considers Iraq as a potential business and economic partner in the event the harsh and inhuman U.N. sanctions against the embattled nation is lifted.

Indonesia is also considering to rule out any form of public support to the U.S. despite the fact that the largest Muslim nation on earth depends largely on U.S. support to redress its economy, observers in Jakarta said.

Briefing reporters after meeting Bolton, Albar said Malaysia’s message was that war would create instability in many countries, drain the focus from international terrorism and hinder economic recovery.

“We want Iraq to comply with the U.N. resolutions but at the same time we think that the U.N. process should be allowed to take its course before any decision is made,” he said.

Malaysia, which takes over the chairmanship of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference later this year, also cautioned that the U.N.’s multilateral system “should not be used to legitimize unilateral action.”

Singapore is bound to give extensive support to the U.S. in the event a war breaks out in the Gulf, despite the fact that Singapore said it will suffer on the economic front due to the impending war.

Singapore’s support will be a lonely voice in the South East Asian region, experts in the field said Monday.

It is clear that a majority of countries in the region do not support the unilateral declaration of war by the U.S. against a battling Muslim nation.