Malaysia To Pay Hefty Price For PM Mahathir’s Rhetoric Against India As Centre Plans Further Import Restrictions

After imposing restrictions on palmolein, and crude and refined palm oil from Malaysia, the Government of India is said to be further mulling to restrict the import of microprocessors from the south asian nation over its Prime Minister (PM) Mohamad Mahathir's anti-India stance on a number of subjects, reports The Times of India.

The Government is said to be working on imposition of technical standards and a quality control order on import of microprocessors as well as telecom equipments which are likely to prove to be a very costly development for Malaysia.

The latest development comes as PM Mahathir remained adamant on his anti-India rhetoric despite restrictions imposed on import of palm oil and palmolein. He said, "We are concerned, of course, because we sell a lot of palm oil to India, but, on the other hand, we need to be frank and see that if something goes wrong, we have to say it."

PM Mahathir has been reluctant to extradite controversial and radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik who had fled India and is presently residing in Malaysia. He has also criticised the Indian Government for some of the recent legislations passed by the nation's sovereign Parliament, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the amendments introduced to India's citizenship laws.