19 June 2019 (The Star Online) LONDON: European countries that sell various goods to Malaysia may be asked to stop tarnishing the image of palm oil.

“We can do so but whether they will reciprocate or not, that’s another thing.

“This can be done and there are more supply from Europe that we can use to ask them to stop tarnishing palm oil,” said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was speaking to reporters here on Monday before concluding his three-day working visit to Britain.

Dr Mahathir said this when asked by reporters on the proposed merger of Malaysian telecommunication company Axiata with Telenor from Norway, one of the countries opposing the use of palm oil.

Norway is the first country in the world to ban the use and purchase of biodiesel containing palm oil on the grounds that its cultivation leads to the destruction of forests.

Dr Mahathir also said that Western countries were often seen forcing other nations to accept what they practised, such as those related to the ideology of communism, capitalism, socialism and the lifestyle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The LGBT lifestyle, he said, was a shift in the Westerners’ moral values, adding that they wanted to force it on other countries.

“We have our own culture and we cannot accept anything that contradicts our culture, our tradition and our religion.

“In addition, Westerners always talk about freedom. That means we are free to reject practices that are unsuitable for us,” he said.

Dr Mahathir was asked if the issues of LGBT brought up during the question-and-answer session after his speech at the Cambridge Union on Sunday showed that there was still pressure on Malaysia to accept the LGBT lifestyle.

“That’s how they exert their pressure and they have managed to influence some Malaysians, including some Muslims and Malays, who think that one of the manifestations of freedom is the right to accept what is practised in the West.

“For example, in the West, (the importance of) the marriage institution is being disregarded and the family institution is no longer accepted. Couples can live together unmarried.

“That’s their way. We don’t have to agree to it. We have our own values that we hold on to and must be proud of. Don’t simply follow the West.”

Dr Mahathir was accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on his visit. — Bernama

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/19/dont-merely-ape-the-west/#ZwghOp7OlpSVyXO8.99