Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia last week as part of a regional tour which came amid a trade war with the US over its hefty 145% tariff on China.
O’Reilly questioned the economic value of Beijing’s outreach to the three countries after claiming they had “no money” to buy Chinese products, with Anwar then stating that O’Reilly had a narrow worldview shaped by imperialism and colonialism.
In a video clip today, O’Reilly laughed off Anwar’s comments and reminded him that Malaysia’s annual household income per capita is US$5,731.
“By comparison, US household income per capita is US$42,220. That would be eight times as much,” he said.
“So if you (Malaysians) want to buy a hat and you’re only making US$5,000 a year, you’re not going to buy it. You’re not getting Chinese takeout either in Kuala Lumpur. You’re barely eating. So prime minister, I wish you all the best.
“China is not going to be able to sell its stuff in your country, or Vietnam, or Cambodia. Got it?”
O’Reilly said he had previously visited Malaysia, which he described as a “beautiful” but “complicated” country.
“(I) want you to succeed, but this ‘colonialist’ has told the truth,” he quipped.
The political commentator was criticised by netizens last week after his controversial video clip, in which he told Xi that Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia do not have the spending power to mitigate the impact of the US’s tariff on Chinese goods.
“We have the money, we buy stuff. The ‘Malays’ aren’t gonna buy your stuff. They don’t have any money,” said O’Reilly, using the ethnic term to refer to all Malaysians.
In response, Anwar said O’Reilly’s comments clearly displayed the former Fox News host’s xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia. He also said such individuals’ “arrogance and ignorance” is based on the assumption that “only their group or nation is successful”.
O’Reilly has known US president Donald Trump for nearly 30 years, having conducted interviews with him and occasionally attending sporting events together. His influence at Fox News and his alignment with conservative values have played a role in shaping public perceptions of Trump in the US.