The South China Morning Post, HK 26th August 2000

IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has shrugged off an American Islamic organisation's decision to cancel plans for him to address its convention following members' anger over the outcome of the sodomy trial of his sacked deputy, Anwar Ibrahim.

"It's their right," Dr Mahathir said. "It's fine by me." He said he did not see it as a snub because "maybe I have a thick skin".

But the withdrawal of the invitation for him to speak at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) meeting next month is not only an embarrassment, coming just weeks before the event, but the most concrete manifestation of adverse international reaction to the Anwar case.

Following his conviction for sodomy, Anwar was given a nine-year sentence on top of the six years he is already serving after being found guilty earlier of corruption. Foreign supporters of Anwar denounced the Malaysian judicial system and Dr Mahathir over the case, alleging it had a political motivation.

Criticism of the verdict by leaders of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand carried no penalty for Dr Mahathir since it was unlikely to be followed by any damaging action against Malaysia, but the ISNA decision is an affront that affects him directly.

In a letter to the Malaysian Embassy in Washington, Muzzammil H. Siddiqi, president of ISNA, said society officials had been flooded with messages from members "expressing sadness and anger over the recent verdict against brother Anwar Ibrahim".

"Because of the strong protest we are receiving from our members, we are unable to assure a favourable reception of the Prime Minister," he said. "This unfortunate situation has rendered us unable to stand by our invitation." Mr Siddiqi said the group wanted Dr Mahathir to come and address Muslims "as a leader who stands for justice". But without any "drastic change in his decision, his presence will be a source of anger, protest and disturbance for the whole convention".

The ISNA represents about 300 Islamic professional and community organisations with a membership of several hundred thousand. It will hold its convention in Rosemont, Illinois, from September 1 to 4. Speaking to Malaysian journalists in London, where he has been attending a meeting, Dr Mahathir said he felt sorry for ISNA because it was not able to distinguish truth from propaganda. Its members were Anwar supporters who "listened to one side of the story only". "It is the same disease we are facing [in Malaysia]," he said. "Some people are only interested in listening to one side and refuse to listen to what others have to say."