Mahathir Mohamad

"No man is above the law, not even those in power. Those in power are in fact trustees and their duty is to promote the public good, not self-enrichment."

"During your deliberations it is only proper that as professionals you focus on legal justice. But I would like to point out that apart from legal justice, there are other kinds of justice which are also desirable that we should achieve, and that is economic and social justice. The former President of the United States, Mr. Carter in a speech to American lawyers said that in the United States there are many judges and many lawyers but not enough justice. He was referring to legal justice. As head of the Government I am acutely aware of the need to provide the broader kind of justice that I mentioned."

"Each of these systems is designed to regulate in a fair manner the relations of man, the relations between man and the State; and prescribes a just way of resolving disputes among them. But each system follows different paths. Your deliberations should over a period of time produce a synthesis of laws for the benefit of the whole of ASEAN."

"As close neighbours, common sense dictates that in our relations with each other there can be no alternative to mutual trust and the willingness to work together in facing our common problems. Indeed, our two countries are also brought together because of our affinity for each other and the many common perceptions we share."

"The corner-stone of Malaysia's foreign policy vis-a-vis Thailand is, and will always be, one of good neighbourliness through mutual assistance and cooperation."

"These are troubled times: not only have we to contend with a major world-wide economic recession, but also serious challenges to the peace and stability of our region. It is, therefore, all the more imperative that we continue working together both bilaterally and within the context of ASEAN."

"Malaysia will work closely with Thailand for the preservation of peace and stability in the region."

"It is through this ASEAN spirit and our commitment to the objectives of ASEAN that today we have in our region an association of nations that we can be justly proud of, for the simple reason that it works."

"The motive-force for the success of ASEAN lies in our firm belief in peace and in working together for the prosperity of all in the region."

"Vietnam's military intervention and continued occupation of Kampuchea represents not only a direct interference in the internal affairs of the country, but a threat to the peace and stability of the whole region. The establishment of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea headed by His Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk is a positive development."

"Your visit to Malaysia, Excellency, is the first ever by a Prime Minister of France. I am confident that your visit will contribute to the strengthening of the existing close ties of friendship and cooperation between our two countries."

"While France may not be among Malaysia's major trading partners, she has participated in and contributed to our economic development in the past and continues to do so presently."

"In adopting a 'Look East' policy in order to balance foreign influences on our national development, we are not turning our backs on the West completely. The West remains an important partner in our development efforts and French expertise, technology and investment are always welcome."

"France... has of late introduced a ruling requiring that all customs import-documents be prepared in French. This is certainly an impediment to a freer flow of trade and constitutes another form of non-tariff barrier."

"Imagine the consternation among French exporters if Malaysia were to insist that they must use Bahasa Malaysia in all their documentation."

"Trade missions coming to sell goods here should bring along investors as well. We need investment in new projects to support our industrialisation programme."

"What we would like to see is an offset programme whereby purchases and contracts are linked with economic reciprocity of one kind or another."

"To achieve this objective of regional peace and stability, Malaysia, together with her partners in ASEAN, declared their resolve to make Southeast Asia a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)."

"Our relations with countries of the region and beyond are based on the principles of respect for one another's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and non-use of force or threat of use of force."

"The protraction of the situation in Kampuchea continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability besides encouraging outside involvement and interference in the region. The formation of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea under the Presidency of His Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk is a welcome development towards achieving such a negotiated political settlement of the Kampuchean issue."

"Towards this end, we would urge that France, a country which has historical links with countries in this region, to contribute positively to the political solution of the Kampuchean issue."

"Change and development are integral to any society and nation. The problem that confronts societies and nations, however, is that not all developments are for the better."

"Malaysia, within this context, welcomes Canadian participation in our current national development endeavours, as outlined in the Fourth Malaysia Plan."

"Canada-ASEAN relations can become the model of cooperation between a developed country and a group of developing countries, based on partnership on equal terms and common interest."

"International law and order has truly broken down, giving rise to a situation where might and right is almost synonymous."

"What is needed is the full backing of the powerful nations. They must revitalise the Organisation which they had created."

"We are quite sure that the prices of all manufactured products that developing countries have to buy will continue to rise even when fuel prices go down."

"For Malaysia and other developing countries it is a case of 'heads I lose, tails you win' all the time."

"Killing OPEC is likely to result in more Mexicos, rather than economic recovery."

"The Kampuchea issue, if not resolved peacefully and promptly, will also become a threat to world peace and security as continued foreign occupation of Kampuchea has brought in its wake big power rivalry and involvement."

"Malaysia welcomes the setting up of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea under the Presidency of His Highness Prince Sihanouk as a positive step towards the peaceful resolution of the Kampuchea issue."

"We look forward to a world characterised by sincere and constructive partnership and cooperation between the developed and more fortunate countries and the developing and less fortunate ones for their mutual benefit."

"Science, as we know it, is not value-free. This is more so with social sciences. And certainly, a subject such as ethnic relations, which tends to have an emotional overtone cannot be expected to be presented or analysed with pure objectivity."

"To be otherwise is to delude ourselves. It is a reality that we have to accept and live with... societies must learn to cope with ethnic problems if the world and human civilisation is to have a meaningful future."

"The multiracial nature of our society is a fact. It is something that every Malaysian must accept, live and cope with."

"Malay culture is really a mixed culture in which elements of Chinese and Indian cultures have been absorbed, albeit modified in form."

"The task of moulding a common national culture and to integrate people of differing ethnic groups is... much more difficult today than it was before."

"The New Economic Policy was conceived with the view to remove the identification of race with economic function."

"While elements of the racial cultures of the different ethnic groups are incorporated into the national culture, each race continues to practise its distinct culture in the environment of its own society."

"If the cultures of the non-indigenous peoples are made the basis of a Malaysian national culture, then Malaysia would become simply an appendage... of the countries from which those cultures come."

"Ethnicity remains a thorn in the Malaysian body, stifling change and progress. But there is no choice for Malaysia and Malaysians. We just have to continue our efforts to bring the different ethnic groups together."

"The only choice left to us is to make everyone equally unhappy... even the indigenous people are not getting all that they ask for, and are consequently just as unhappy and dissatisfied."

"We know we have difficult periods in front of us, but with care and reduced ethnic overtones, and by channelling our energy to productive uses we can bring our vision to reality."

"It is important to re-examine policies, and make structural changes so that policies and structures do not become objectives in themselves, but rather the means of achieving economic, social and political targets."

"Malaysia is a free enterprise nation but its economy is subject to a variety of regulations as are all free enterprise economies."

"We are constantly reexamining ourselves. An Economic Panel was set up recently for this purpose."

"The world is going through a very difficult period. The whole banking system is now being questioned and with it the financing of international trade and investments."

"High interest rates in a nation which lives on credit mean lowered consumption, lowered inventories and lowered investments."

"There are things that we can change. There are others that we cannot change. Is it worthwhile to knock our heads against stone walls or should we use the prepared passage or the soft spots which will let us through."

"The NEP is one of the most liberal policies. Those who have decided to live with it have done extremely well."