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From owner-imap@chumbly.math.missouri.edu Sat Oct 5 07:30:06 2002
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 09:29:58 -0500 (CDT)
Organization: South Movement
From: Dave Muller <davemull@alphalink.com.au>
Subject: [southnews] Mahathir sees oil as a weapon
Article: 145628
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Mahathir sees oil as a weapon

Agence France-Presse, 4 October 2002

Muslims should use oil as a weapon, Malaysia's Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said yesterday.

If we reduce oil output, prices will rise. It can be used as a weapon to protect the interest of Muslims, Dr Mahathir said. Oil is the only thing Muslim nations have which is needed by the rest of the world. If they can cut back on supply, people will not be oppressive on them.

Dr Mahathir, 76, was replying to a question after opening a local Islamic convention in the south-eastern Malaysian city of Malacca.

To avoid exploitation, we must be strong. We must reduce our dependence on others and acquire new knowledge. If we have oil, it can be used as a weapon.

OPEC [the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries] should control the price of oil but there is no unity in OPEC. When the oil price goes up, there are other nations that increase output. If we reduce oil output, prices will rise. It can be used as a weapon to protect the interest of Muslims.

Malaysia is an oil producer, but is a net importer and is not a member of OPEC. Dr Mahathir, however, will chair the summit meeting of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur in October next year.