Politics

Presidential Inaugaration: Letter from Dr. Mahathir to Obama

Published

January 19, 2009

Abu Reem

Over the next days, as Obama is sworn into office, we will be sharing various messages to Obama. If you have suggestions, feel free to email them to us:

January 1, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian. But I consider myself one of your constituents because what you do or say will affect me and my country as well.

I welcome your promise for change. Certainly your country, the United States of America needs a lot of changes.

That is because America and Americans have become the most hated people in the world. Even Europeans dislike your arrogance. Yet you were once admired and liked because you freed a lot of countries from conquest and
subjugation.

It is the custom on New Year’s day for people to make resolutions. You must have listed your good resolutions already. But may I politely suggest that you also resolve to do the following in pursuit of Change.

1) Stop killing people. The United States is too fond of killing people in order to achieve its objectives. You call it war, but today’s wars are not about professional soldiers fighting and killing each other. It is about killing people, ordinary innocent people by the hundreds of thousands. Whole countries will be devastated.

War is primitive, the cavemen’s way of dealing with a problem. Stop your arms build up and your planning for future wars.

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers with your money and your weapons. The planes and the bombs killing the people of Gaza are from you.

3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you.

In Iraq your sanctions killed 500,000 children through depriving them of medicine and food. Others were born deformed.

What have you achieved with this cruelty? Nothing except the hatred of the victims and right-thinking people.

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.

5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world. It is blood money that you earn. It is un-Christian.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world. Democracy may work for the United States but it does not always work for other countries.

Don’t kill people because they are not democratic. Your crusade to democratize countries has killed more people than the authoritarian Governments which you overthrew. And you have not succeeded anyway.

7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. . Stop hedge funds, derivatives and currency trading. Stop banks from lending non-existent money by the billions.

Regulate and supervise your banks. Jail the miscreants who made profits from abusing the system.

8 ) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.

9) Show respect for the United Nations.

I have many other resolutions for change which I think you should consider and undertake.

But I think you have enough on your plate for this 2009th year of the Christian Era.

If you can do only a few of what I suggest, you will be remembered by the world as a great leader. Then the United States will again be the most admired nation. Your embassies will be able to take down the high fences and razor-wire coils that surround them.

May I wish you a Happy New Year and a great Presidency.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
(Former Prime Minister of Malaysia)
[Source]

0 Shares

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Related Topics:Inaugaration Mahathir obama

Up Next

Thank President Obama for Closing Guantanamo

Don't Miss

Muslim Congressmen Fail To Stand Up Against Palestinian Massacre

Abu Reem

Abu Reem is one of the founders of MuslimMatters, Inc. His identity is shaped by his religion (Islam), place of birth (Pakistan), and nationality (American). By education, he is a ChemE, topped off with an MBA from Wharton. He has been involved with Texas Dawah, Clear Lake Islamic Center and MSA. His interests include politics, cricket, and media interactions. Career-wise, Abu Reem is in management in the oil & gas industry (but one who still appreciates the "green revolution").

16 Comments

AsimG

January 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM

interesting, was he popular in malaysia?

Reply
mofw

January 19, 2009 at 3:08 PM

Dear Santa Claus,

I’ve been nice. Can you bring us some world peace?

Thanks!

P.S. Send my regards to the tooth fairy.

Reply
MK

January 19, 2009 at 4:20 PM

he certainly did not mince his words…good for him!

Reply
UmmeAmmaarah

January 19, 2009 at 4:37 PM

Wow! Do heads-of-state really write such letters to each other? i guess present ones wouldn’t, ‘former’ ones can maybe take the liberty. It probably should’nt have been so ‘fierce’, could have been put a little more politely, but hey… i guess he’ll be getting a lot of those.. If only Allah Ta’Ala puts it in his heart to heed maybe atleast a few of these… Ameen.

Reply
Dawud Israel

January 19, 2009 at 6:03 PM

Obama pledged 30 billion to Israel over the next decade…NUFF SAID!

EDIT: BTW, I am loving this new edit feature. My props to whoever got this going! :)

Reply
ALGEBRA

January 19, 2009 at 6:21 PM

Aslamu-alaikum:
OH i sooooooooooooo LOVE this letter.
IT CUT THROUGH THE BULL and GOT TO THE POINT.
MashAllah a WELL WRITTEN LETTER.
I am happy he exercised his freedom of speech.
salam

Reply
sincethestorm

January 19, 2009 at 9:31 PM

Good letter but I’d like to see Ahmedinejad’s letter

Reply
Mohammad S.

January 20, 2009 at 5:03 PM

Good letter but I’d like to see Ahmedinejad’s letter

LOL!
Mashallah, good letter though; at first I thought it was from a normal person, till I got to the end.

Reply
abu abdAllah, the Houstonian

January 20, 2009 at 5:47 PM

I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian.

i loved that line. :)

1) Stop killing people.

Takbir! Allaho Akbar!

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers…
3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you.

Stop unilateral support of those who transgress on the earth, and stop emulating them!

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.
5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world.
7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. (out of order, yes, but only numerically)

But we need those jobs… only as much as Africa needs trade in blood diamonds.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world.

I think the President of Malaysia was a bit generous here in his description of the installation of the Karzai government, for example, as a democracy. But he did say “trying to democratize…”

8 ) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.
9) Show respect for the United Nations.

Besides all the stuff we’ve got to stop doing to the world, there are some good neighbor stuff we’ve been neglecting, too!

Dear President Obama. Please take this country off the path of ‘Aad, of Thamud, and of Qawmi-Loot. There were all transgressors against the weak. There were all arrogant in the extreme. And they brought ruin upon themselves. Lead America with honesty and compassion, strength but not aggression. Justice and not self-interest. Then this will again be a land where liberty and freedom shine forth like a beacon to the world, and the world will know that America stands for good, again.

Reply
maghi85

January 20, 2009 at 10:37 PM

what’s the source of this letter??
shouldn’t that be the first question Muslims ask!?!

Reply
- Amad
  
  January 20, 2009 at 11:31 PM
  
  http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=MOH20090102&articleId=11584
  
  The source is now included in the post.
  
  Reply
mulsimah

January 20, 2009 at 10:44 PM

kewl prime minister!

Reply
Miako

January 23, 2009 at 9:54 AM

Good walls make good neighbors (read the Frost poem, it’s really good).
May Obama send at least as much aid to the poor Palestinians as he does to the Israelis. And may we all be better allies for it!

Reply
Modest

February 3, 2009 at 10:55 PM

To AsimG.
Yes,He’s Popular In Malaysia And Neighbourhood Region.
He’s The One Who Put Malaysia To Be Seen On The World Map.

He’s My Man.

Reply
MahathirKini

February 11, 2009 at 12:06 AM

Great letter from a great leader!

Reply
AMI

February 11, 2009 at 2:16 AM

WOW …. A GREAT LETTER FROM A GREAT LEADER.

Reply