"Malaysia which is the leading producer of a number of important raw materials such as rubber, tin, palm oil and tropical timber, is hard hit as a result of greatly reduced export earnings."

"That is why I have asked Malaysians to 'Look East' and to learn from Japan."

"What I have been exhorting is for Malaysians to emulate the Japanese in their work ethics and attitudes and their management system which, I think, is the main factor in Japan's rapid development and industrialisation."

"Together we would be laying the foundation for an enduring and meaningful relationship between our two countries and peoples."

"We do not intend to be the robots for foreign industry."

"Foreign investment must be accompanied by a decent dose of technology transfer, without which the broad policy objective of foreign investments will not be meaningful."

"Our "Look East" policy, in essence, is a call to return to the self-help philosophy of our earlier era: it re-emphasises the need to pull ourselves up by our own hardwork, determination and initiative."

"What we are after is not dissimilar from the uchiwa (all in the family) economic system of the Japanese."

"Technological imbalance among nations, in particular between the developed and the developing countries is growing at an even greater pace with the rapid scientific and technological progress of the developed nations. This phenomenon is placing a greater strain on the already inequitable situation existing in the world economic and financial systems."

"Free trade was expounded by Western economists as the most ideal form of trade until of course the developing countries learnt to export and enter western markets. Now protectionism is the acknowledged method of the developed countries which have also banded together in powerful economic groupings."

"Inequitable technology is a barrier to common progress. While the developing countries are at the early stages of applying known technologies, the advanced countries are progressing by leaps and bounds into higher technology and robotics."

"Technology is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. And that end is the achievement of economic goals which in turn are to serve social and political purposes."

"One important factor for effective transfer of technology is the employment and training of local staff at all levels. It would be to the advantage of the corporation that the staff consider themselves as an integral and vital part of this operation."

"Joint-venture enterprises on an international scale can pave the way not only for the transfer of needed technology for the industrialisation of developing countries, but more significantly they can ensure market outlets for products manufactured in developing countries."

"We most certainly do not want to continue to be the plantations and mines for Europe or the rest of the world."

"We most certainly do not cherish the dubious honour that ASEAN holds as a world leader in the production of various raw commodities whose prices are often dictated by the tender mercies of market manipulators and close-shop trading systems in Europe and other parts of the world."

"We most certainly do not want to perpetuate our manufacturing sectors at the lower ranges of the scale of world technology."

"We have stopped believing in altruism long ago."

"The market that we form, and potentially it is a rich market, is not there simply for you to exploit. But you may share that market if you are willing to share what you have in abundance i.e. technological know-how, capital, management and marketing skills."

"Protectionism is, needless to say, contrary to free trade."

"Clearly then interdependence means interdependence. It does not mean dependence of the weak on the strong."

"We say that we are progressing with “deliberate speed”. We want to build a structure, brick by brick, so that the final edifice will stand the test of time."

"Without the Non-Aligned Movement, more of us will be fighting each other as pawns or proxies of the committed powers."

"We must condemn aggressors for their misdeeds, and do all within our means to undo the damage. While violence is not a part of our creed, there are other weapons that will serve us just as well."

"The Vietnamese forces in irresistible strength marched into Kampuchea and installed a puppet regime. And having done so, the Vietnamese army stayed on to prop up that regime."

"That the Kampuchean refugees are willing to join up with the Coalition Government led by Prince Norodom Sihanouk proves beyond any reasonable doubt that they do not want the Heng Samrin regime or his Vietnamese backers."

"The legitimacy of Democratic Kampuchea to represent Kampuchea here, and elsewhere, should not be disputed since the UN General Assembly has repeatedly, and with increasing majority, affirmed and recognised it."

"If a neighbour is strong, then the possibility of being occupied is very real. Might is right."

"Afghanistan, under whatever regime, is no threat to the Soviet Union. If the Soviet Union can live with the People's Republic of China as a sworn enemy, surely it can live with its Central Asian neighbours without military occupation."

"The massacres at Sabra and Shatila, committed by the Phalangists, with the knowledge and blessing of the Israeli military leaders, shall be remembered in history alongside the horrors of Auschwitz, Dachau, and Belsen."

"There is no basic difference between the Nazis and the Israelis."

"The continued existence of the white regime [in South Africa] is an insult to the whole human race."

"The recession is a man-made recession, cooked up in the capitals of some powerful industrialised countries."

"Let us stop deluding ourselves. The North is not about to abdicate their role as the aristocrats of the world economies."

"It is better that we fall back on our own resources than to place our hopes on understanding and help from the unfeeling North."

"Either we maintain a posture of genuine independence, and work for the strengthening of our Movement, or we pursue the role prescribed for us by the super-powers."

"Only those without honour are willing to let their nation be belittled."

"A government that is clean, efficient and trustworthy will speed up development and enable Malaysians to live a better life."

"It is pointless for leaders to urge others to do good if they themselves do not practise what they preach."

"To lead by providing good examples is the most effective way to ensure that good deeds are practised by all."

"We should not delay our work for the purpose of procuring bribes. What is not rightfully ours should not be taken."

"Skill can only be obtained through appropriate training and experience."

"Without trustworthiness, disorder will prevail."

"Misuse of authority will no longer be an instrument for supervision but will instead become an obstacle which will destroy society."

"If the civil service cannot be relied on then the government will collapse, and there will be anarchy."

"With an administration that is not clean, efficient and trustworthy, Malaysia can never be successful, progressive or respected."

"We should work for the people, for the nation, and for the Almighty."

"Compared to other multi-racial nations, the racial understanding and harmony in this country is something all Malaysians can be proud of."