We need an opposition to remind us if we are making mistakes. When you are not opposed you think everything you do is right. Mahathir Mohamad More Quotes by Mahathir Mohamad More Quotes From Mahathir Mohamad As far as Malaysia is concerned, Singapore is a foreign country. Mahathir Mohamad far malaysia singapore country Whenever I am asked who I admire most among the leaders I have met, I have no hesitation in naming Nelson Mandela. Mahathir Mohamad naming i-am who admire Looking back now, I realise why, as prime minister of Malaysia, I was described as a dictator. There were many things I did which were typically dictatorial. Mahathir Mohamad looking back things looking-back Free press is not absolute. In this country, we say clearly if you start stirring up racial hatred, then we will put a stop to it. We might even close down your paper, because these things can only lead to a lot of riots and bloodshed. Mahathir Mohamad down start you country For me, to say I want to go to sleep and retire and prepare for my afterlife, I think that is very selfish. Mahathir Mohamad think me selfish sleep All leaders must have some power. Without power, you can't be a leader. Mahathir Mohamad some you leader power In Malaysia, trials have always been fair. Mahathir Mohamad fair always malaysia trials The Chinese are welcome to invest in industries in Malaysia. But just as we would not welcome mass immigration of Indians or Pakistanis or Europeans or Africans into Malaysia, we have to adopt the same stance on Chinese immigration into Malaysia. Mahathir Mohamad just malaysia welcome immigration Malaysia has got all the things in place to continue growth: the policies are there; the mechanisms are there. So, I think even when I am not around, Malaysia can do with other people who are converse with our policies. Mahathir Mohamad i-am think growth people Being a medical practitioner enables me to get in touch with people, understand their problems, feel sympathetic towards them, and the natural thing is to want to help them, and if you become a politician and if you are successful, you can help them even more. Mahathir Mohamad me you medical people Malaysia is particularly sensitive: we have three races here and 29 different tribes. If you allow people to say what they like, there will be violence, confrontations, and all that. We need stability. Mahathir Mohamad will you violence people Why do I want to remove Najib? I should have thought the whole world would know. This man steals money. Not a few hundred dollars, not a few thousand dollars - he stole billions of dollars, and that has been verified by investigations here in Malaysia and the U.S. Mahathir Mohamad thought man money world I know I'm not popular with all the people. Remember, I am 'cruel' or a 'pharaoh.' That's all right. In politics, you get called all types of names. Mahathir Mohamad i-am you politics people There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing the right things. On such occasions, we have to rethink - either you change the rules or break the rules. Mahathir Mohamad rules doing you change The thinning of the ozone layer is blamed on logging of tropical forests. The fact that the burning of fossil fuels and release of CFCs (chloro-fluoro-carbons) into the atmosphere occur largely in the rich countries are significantly ignored. Mahathir Mohamad fossil-fuels fact tropical rich Not many dictators announce their resignation, but I did because I didn't want to stay on and overstay my welcome. Mahathir Mohamad stay resignation welcome want Democracy must be internally generated. You cannot force it from the top - it's not going to work. Mahathir Mohamad you force democracy work A lawyer wants to get his client off the hook. And even if he knows the client is guilty, he is going to find ways and means of getting him off the hook. Mahathir Mohamad going find guilty lawyer
