Former New Straits Times (NST) editor-in-chief Datuk Kadir Jasin has questioned United States president Barack Obama’s statement on Sunday on giving equal opportunities to non-Muslims, calling it a form of interference into Malaysian matters.

“If this is not interference and provocation, then I don’t know what it is then,” he wrote in his latest blog posting.

He had then went on to praise Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who had refuted Obama’s statement yesterday and added that the government had given equal opportunity to all races in the country.

“Congratulations Dr Ahmad Zahid. It was not a waste that UMNO delegates had voted you in as the most popular vice-president in the recent party election. Alhamdulillah, there are still UMNO faces who have not been infected by the Koro syndrome,” Kadir wrote in his blog kadirjasin.blogspot.com.

He said the former US vice-president Al Gore had in 1998 praised Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the reformasi movement but Obama had acted beyond that by accusing Malaysia of sidelining the minorities and the non-Muslims.

“Who are the ones being oppressed and facing pressure? Who had opened the Pandora box, demanding that they too be allowed to use the Allah word?,” he asked.

He also questioned the existence of the dozens of churches in Brickfields, Jalan Gasing and Sentul as well as the Hindu temples which he said are found on every street corner, under big trees and in the cave.

“And what about the Buddihist, Siamese temples, the Sikh Gudwaras and Chinese temples all over the country. And who controls the economy?” Kadir asked.

He said Obama had indirectly appointed himself as a spokesman for the non-Muslims in the country who had complained to him that they were being severely discriminated by the Muslims and Malays in the country.

“The question is, are the Muslims and Malays in the country going to keep quiet with Obama’s interference just because there are some who are too happy just being allowed to ride in the same car as him or because he sings of praises in their ears?,” he asked.

Obama had in a town hall session on Sunday said that Malaysia must ensure that its non-Muslim citizens be given equal opportunity if it wants to prosper.

"Malaysia won't succeed if the non-Muslims do not have the same opportunity,” Obama said in the meeting at Dewan Tunku Cancelor in University of Malaya.

Obama said non-Muslims in Malaysia are currently facing hostility, and some have felt oppressed.