ALWAYS POLITE ASIAN WANTS AUSTRALIA TO PISS OFF

Mahathir Mohamad doesn't want Australia to attend next week's East Asia summit:

Dr Mahathir says Prime Minister John Howard does not belong at the meeting and will simply be attending as the United States "deputy sheriff" in the region.

The meeting brings together the 10 member states of ASEAN, plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The inclusion of the last two has upset Malaysia's former leader.

Dr Mahathir says neither country is in the East or Asian.

"Therefore, Australia's views will represent not the east but the views reflecting the stand of America," he said.

"I am afraid that knowing Asians, who are always very polite and do not like to appear to be recalcitrant, the views of Australia are likely to dominate."

Dr Mahathir had a rocky relationship with Australia during his 22 years in power.

Then-prime minister Paul Keating in 1993 dubbed him a "recalcitrant" for refusing to attend the inaugural Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit.

This is more about Keating's "recalcitrant" remark than it is about fear of Australia dominating the summit. Big baby.