PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rebuked American conservative political commentator Bill O'Reilly for his comments mocking the economic value of China President Xi Jinping's visit to Southeast Asia recently.
He said that such comments show arrogance and a lack of knowledge about the region.
Speaking after the Finance Ministry’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, Anwar criticised O’Reilly’s comments, which mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, claiming it held little economic value.
O’Reilly, in a clip shared on social media, had also singled out Malaysia, saying, “The Malays aren’t going to buy your stuff, they don’t have any money!”
Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia’s Finance Minister, responded by calling out the former Fox News host’s attitude.
“This kind of thinking still exists and leads to xenophobia, racism, and Islamophobia. It stems from ignorance,” Anwar said. “He is still trapped in an imperialist mindset.”
Media outlets reported that O’Reilly, 75, questioned why Xi had visited Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia, dismissing the economic importance of these nations.
“Hey, President Xi, let me just break it to you. Those folks have no money at all. They cannot help you. They are not gonna buy your stuff because they don’t have any money,” O’Reilly said in a video posted on X.
Xi arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, his first in over a decade, at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.
The visit comes amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, driven by President Donald Trump’s introduction of sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods, currently standing at 245 per cent.
O’Reilly’s remarks appeared to reflect confusion over the geopolitical intent of Xi’s tour, suggesting it may be a manoeuvre to sidestep global scrutiny and mounting economic pressure.
Anwar’s remarks highlighted frustration at what many in the region see as Western ignorance and condescension towards Southeast Asia’s growing economic and strategic relevance. – April 18, 2025
