WASHINGTON, Oct 27: The US Senate on Monday placed restrictions on some US aid to Malaysia to show its displeasure over Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s recent assertions that Jews control the world by proxy.

The Senate unanimously agreed to condition 1.2 million dollars in military training assistance to Malaysia on a determination by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the country supports and promotes religious freedom, including for Jews.

The provision was added to an 18 billion dollars foreign aid spending bill, which the Senate is expected to approve this week. While the amount of aid at stake is not large, the move should send a message to Malaysia’s government, aides said.

Mr Mahathir, who steps down as Malaysia’s prime minister at the end of the month after 22 years in power, provoked a storm of international criticism after telling the OIC summit earlier this month: “The Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today, the Jews rule this world by proxy.”

Sen Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, asked: “What could be more outrageous in 2003 for the prime minister of any country to make such unbelievably erroneous statements? They are dangerously wrong and they play directly into the hands of radical Islamic extremists throughout the region.”

The House of Representatives passed its version of the foreign aid spending bill in July, so it does not contain any aid restriction. The two bills will have to be reconciled.

Mahathir has remained defiant, saying the controversy was being fanned by Jewish-owned newspapers that “have a powerful influence over the thinking of many people”.

McConnell said: “Mahathir himself has influence over the thinking of many people. My advice is that, in future, he should think before he speaks.”—Reuters