[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12849-S12850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 247--CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO CONDEMN THE ANTI-
  SEMITIC SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY DR. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD, THE OUTGOING 
                       PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Clinton, 
Mr. Corzine, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Hatch, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Reid, Mr. Bayh, 
Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Graham of Florida) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

       Whereas the outgoing prime minister of Malaysia, Dr. 
     Mahathir Mohamad, has become notorious over the years for his 
     virulent opposition to Israel;
       Whereas Dr. Mahathir opened the 57-nation, October 2003 
     summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in 
     Malaysia by characterizing Israel and Jews around the world 
     as ``the enemy'' who ``rule the world by proxy'';
       Whereas Dr. Mahathir's anti-Semitic remarks are despicable 
     and will serve to incite further sectarian violence; and
       Whereas President George W. Bush will be traveling to 
     Thailand to attend the October 20-21, 2003, meeting in 
     Bangkok of the leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
     (APEC), which Dr. Mahathir will also be attending: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) thoroughly repudiates the damaging rhetoric of the 
     outgoing prime minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, 
     which makes peace in the Middle East and around the world 
     more elusive; and
       (2) calls upon President George W. Bush, on behalf of the 
     United States, to condemn Dr. Mahathir's injurious sentiments 
     when the President and the prime minister meet to attend the 
     October 20-21, 2003, meeting in Bangkok of the leaders of 
     Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).


[[Page S12850]]


  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague, Senator 
Lautenberg, in the introducing an important resolution. This resolution 
condemns the highly inflammatory and hate-ridden statements by the 
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the opening of the 
Organization of the Islamic Conference this Thursday.
  Prime Minister Mohamad expressed the most despicable of views toward 
people of the Jewish faith. The Malaysian Prime Minister did not 
confine himself merely to vitriolic anti-Semitic remarks, however. He 
moved to incite Muslims throughout the world to fight Jews. These 
remarks are not only hateful, but directly undermine the goals of 
tolerance and understanding that the U.S. hopes its allies will 
promote.
  As you are aware, President Bush is currently in Asia and will attend 
the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in Thailand, October 20. This 
resolution urges the President to condemn the Prime Minister's remarks 
when the two meet next week.
  I urge my respected colleagues to join us in supporting this 
important legislation.

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