More could be done by the world's nations, including Malaysia, to help activists detained from the Mavi Marmara ship than to just condemn the brutal aggression by the Israeli regime on the flotilla bringing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"I think something more is needed than just condemnation by the governments of the world. You can condemn...but the Israelis just don't care," he said here today at a press conference on the upcoming "Structural Transformation of the Malaysian Economy" roundtable and public dialogue organised by the Perdana Leadership Foundation and the New Club of Paris.
Referring to the Israeli attackers as "a bunch of rouges with no human feelings", the Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) chairman said Malaysia and the world could urge the United Nations Security Council to act against the Israeli regime over the attack.
"I think the world should also prevail upon the United States to support Israel only when it is doing something right and not when Israel commits a crime ... you support them just because they are your ally," he said.
Malaysia had yesterday urged the United Nations Security Council to censure the Israeli regime over the attack.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had said that Malaysia would propose the matter be deliberated on by the Security Council soonest possible.
Twelve Malaysians were on board the Mavi Marmara, including a reporter and a cameraman from Astro Awani. They are all reported to be unhurt.
On another issue, Dr Mahathir ruled out the possibility of the country going bankrupt if it continues to give subsidies to the people.
"In order to convey the message, Idris had exaggerated things...we are not going to be bankrupt but we are going to be poor," he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who is also the CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the PM's Department, said the nation could go bankrupt by 2019 with debts totalling RM1.158 trillion if the country's deficit keeps on rising.
Malaysia's deficit rose to a record high of RM74 billion last year.
With regard to subsidies, Dr Mahathir urged the government to consider subsidies provided to the foreign industries.
"A lot of money goes to subsidising foreign industries in this country. They get cheap electricity, cheap fuel and on top of that they get tax exemption for 10 years. We are subsidising them but we get nothing," he said.
However, the subsidy rationalisation must not be sudden, but must be done gradually, he added. --
