Mahathir Mohamad

"Developing countries are so designated because they are relatively poor. If they are going to be able to buy from the developed countries, they must be helped to attain the financial capacity to do so."

"ASEAN today is faced with two major problems — one, the instability and uncertainty caused by the situation in Indochina; the second major problem arises out of the current world recession which threatens to retard the industrialisation efforts of the ASEAN countries."

"The developed countries have opted for protectionism as a panacea for their ailing industries. If this tendency is not checked, not only would the exports of developing countries be affected but their development and industrialisation efforts would be seriously hampered."

"ASEAN would pursue the creation of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia. The leaders of ASEAN firmly believe that given their freedom from superpower dominance and interference, neighbouring states could successfully set aside their differences to forge a common purpose."

"These opportunities were, however, lost when Vietnam intervened militarily and occupied Kampuchea. This she did with the open support of the Soviet Union."

"ASEAN's approach to the solution of the Kampuchean problem is aimed at establishing a sovereign, independent and neutral Kampuchea respected and guaranteed by the great powers."

"It has long been recognised that the political situation in Southeast Asia, directly or indirectly, impinges on Japan's economic and strategic interests. A prosperous and stable ASEAN is important to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and therefore merits Japan's support."

"Looking East does not mean total Japanization, or a complete break with the West. But it certainly means the almost total dependence on the West will be replaced by a more balanced attitude towards both East and West."

"Our ‘Look East’ policy should not just be a one-way traffic. We seek the close cooperation, understanding and assistance not only from the Japanese Government but also from the Japanese public."

"Film makers, whether they are producers, directors, script writers, actors and actresses, are endowed with such special qualities that they can contribute in one way or the other towards the happiness of their audience."

"They can make the audience happy or they can make them cry. They can make them knowledgeable or they can confuse them absolutely."

"Above all they can inculcate positive values so essential to nation building and the development processes."

"In the context of developing Malaysia, I see their vast potential in putting across our commitments and reassuring Malaysians of the targets of the nation's strategy in sustaining the growth of a happy and vibrant country as envisaged in our New Economic Policy."

"However to be truly profitable local films must be good enough to be shown outside of this country."

"Let your success inspire you to greater achievements."

"The European Economic Community uses economic power to continue political domination. The United States too was drawn into this grouping, thus adding strength to the domination of European countries over their former colonies."

"ASEAN is not a strategic concept designed to overawe its neighbours. It was an ad hoc solution to a communications problem between neighbours who were strangers to each other."

"Once it was formed, much more was expected of ASEAN than was ever in the minds of the founders."

"The five countries of ASEAN are ethnically similar, but historically and politically diverse."

"Foreign holdings were forcibly nationalised. But learning from the other ASEAN countries that such was not the route to prosperity, nationalisation was dropped."

"All the ASEAN countries are now believers in free trade and free enterprise. Foreign capital is welcome by all."

"ASEAN has brought prosperity and stability. Although it is not a military grouping, it can coordinate its policies to deter the kind of adventures that countries standing alone and economically troubled attract."

"Might is now the only thing that is right. Weak countries like Afghanistan, Kampuchea and Lebanon are trodden over by the boots of invading armies as the rest of the world stood by."

"The credibility of the United Nations is at stake. The United Nations must regain its credibility."

"The foreign military invasion and continued occupation of Kampuchea is a crime against the Kampuchean people and a threat to regional peace and security."

"Nobody, not even a people who had suffered as much as the Jews had, have the right to inflict upon others the horrors of Sabra and Shatila."

"Israel is a bully. If it is any bigger or stronger the world will not be safe."

"Those weapons are for nothing less than murder."

"To the developing nations, the continuance of the Afghan nationalist struggle is crucial."

"Apartheid... is a travesty of justice and is an affront to human dignity."

"Our patience and sense of fair-play is being taxed to the limit with the market manipulations abroad which in effect reduce our people to underpaid labourers."

"The various exchanges located in the developed countries literally manipulate prices in order to make a profit for the brokers, the dealers, the speculators and others."

"It is a case of heads you win, tails I lose."

"The stockpile is merely a rich nation’s monopolistic weapon used to depress prices of commodities for the benefit of the consumers."

"This world-wide depression is man-made. It is made in the powerful countries by short-sighted people."

"There will be violence, riots and revolutions. Governments will fall and anarchy will prevail."

"The world has suffered enough from this depression. We need action now."

"The uninhabited lands of Antarctica... do not legally belong to the discoverers as much as the colonial territories do not belong to the colonial powers."

"Historical episodes are not facts that can substantiate claims."

"Israel continues to propagate the myth of the non-existence of the Palestinian people."

"We in Malaysia too see the need for the injection of greater assistance to the South Pacific island countries so as to enable them to build up their national resilience and independence."

"The Commonwealth is now on test. If the Commonwealth countries in our region cannot actualise economic and functional cooperation, the prestige of the Commonwealth itself will go down."

"Some industrially developed nations really feel free to scour and devour the developing nations by their exploitative methods and practices."

"They seem incapable of realizing that such libertine activities would only lead to the destruction of the free enterprise system itself."

"Our advice to these countries should be that they talk less of their generosity to provide assistance to the poor nations and instead undertake a thorough soul-searching examination."

"The Government of Malaysia fully subscribes to the concept of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries. Malaysians are ready to participate in practical economic and technical programmes with Papua New Guinea. We are your 'wantoks'."

"The spinoffs of better understanding and goodwill from increased contact and cooperation between our peoples will surely strengthen our friendship."

"Malaysia is extremely unhappy at the manipulation of commodity prices by the various exchanges located in the developed countries. Scant regard is paid to the producers. To ensure reasonable prices, such an unhealthy system has to be dismantled."

"I believe in the supremacy of the Constitution. The Malaysian Government will faithfully do its duty as guaranteed to minorities, rights guaranteed to the citizen and in some cases to the non-citizen also. The Constitution is not infallible, having been drafted by mere man. Hence the Constitution also provides for its amendment no doubt to make it compatible with changing times. But the conditions for amendments are such that the Constitution cannot be trifled with at will."

"The coming together of ASEAN countries for the purpose of creating greater business opportunities for those involved in the tourist industry once again demonstrates ASEAN's determination to foster closer cooperation among member countries."