September 30, 2012
No to International Mediator Role, says Dr. Mahathir
by Bernama
NEW YORK: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has ruled out taking up the role of an international mediator similar to the ones performed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or United States (US) President Jimmy Carter.
He said this during an informal meeting with Malaysian students on Saturday at the Malaysian United Nations (UN) mission in New York.
After the conferring of the Rafik Hariri United Nations Habitat Memorial Award on Mahathir Friday night, some guests were privately asking if he would not make a good mediator for resolving international disputes, given his wide-ranging international experience and his elder statesman status.
“No, I don’t think I am qualified for such a role,” he told Bernama, adding in a lighter vein that the “world will not listen to me and people will do what they like…so, I would discount such a role.”
Mahathir looked relaxed as he fielded questions from the students on issues ranging from the political situation in Malaysia and Malaysia’s transition to a developed nation, to the China-Japan conflict.
“You need a strong government to manage a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious country like Malaysia,” Mahathir noted.
Return home, students told
He also advised the students not to forget the culture and values they brought from home when studying in the West.
“We begin to change in terms of our values and culture after staying in developed countries. Some may even say that we (in Malaysia) are not as progressive as in the countries where you have studied.When you compare something good with something better, then your own country doesn’t look so good. But when you compare your country with something not so good, then even the bad things begin to look good,” he told the students.
He also urged Malaysian students to return home after completing their studies and offer their expertise for nation-building.
“Help Malaysia realise its goal of becoming a developed country by 2020,” Mahathir said, pointing out that Malaysia, despite the global downturn, was still growing and “defying gravity”, as the Financial Times recently put it.
Looking mentally sharp and alert for his age, 87-year-old Mahathir recalled that at the time of Independence from British colonial rule, Malaysia seemed to have been written off, with critics saying that the country would not survive because of its multi-ethnic and multi-racial composition.
“We decided to share our wealth between our communities –- Malay, Chinese and Indian. It’s better to have a smaller slice of the cake than the full cake.
“By sharing the cake, we offered opportunities to the other communities as well,” he said, explaining that Malaysia had thus ensured economic growth and prosperity.
Striking a balance
He said that Malaysia was blessed by nature and, unlike some of its neighbours, had not been at the receiving end of natural disasters.Mahathir also spoke against corruption, saying that the person giving bribe was as guilty as the person taking it.
On the recent riots in several Muslim countries over an anti-Islam film made by an individual in the US, he said that he favoured freedom of expression but there were limitations to it, particularly when it hurt the feelings of others.
On the escalating China-Japan tensions and the US role in the conflict, he said: “…You have to be willing to compromise and strike a balance.”
He cited Malaysia’s examples in reaching deals with its neighbours by taking a ‘reasonable stand’ when conflicts or issues arose.
Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali were welcomed at the mission by Malaysian Ambassador in Washington, Othman Hashim.
Muhammad Afiq Hassan, a student at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, read out a welcome address on behalf of the students.
– Bernama
Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger 
Congrats, Ayahanda Tun. You are just great. Most of the guys who comment on this blog and the blog host himself do not appreciate you. They are ungrateful lot. Diapa semua mudah lupa jasa baik dan usaha keras Ayahanda Tun untuk membangunkan negara Malaysia.
Awat Tun tak mahu jadi international mediator? Pengalaman Tun boleh diguna bukan saja di negara Malaysia tetapi juga untuk Syria dan negara-negara Arab.
Hahahaha! Mahathir you one ungrateful…… Singapore has given you tertiary education. Even then every time you whack Singapore. Saying the words! Cut! Cut! Cut! Your meddling with bilateral affair with Singapore led to total disaster.
Mahathir,
Aren’t you ashamed when Singapore humiliate you by publishing all your letters between you & Singapore govt over the issues on water etc etc etc. because of you, syed botak got to contest in icj & lost pedra branca.
Me extremely happy you never take up mediator role in middle east. Guarantee world war 3. I hope you read this
Wah.., so desperate ah?!
Until got staged questions? Sycophants wearing their lackey-doms inside out.
Whadda? It’s not as if Ban Ki-Moon or even Basher Assad is asking. It’s UMNO flunkiies! If this qualifies as Bernama news and to show that Octo is humble – it’s the cheapest, low class joke ever! Toldja these UMNO flakes jual murah.. Malu-lah.
“It’s better to have a smaller slice of the cake than the full cake.” Mahathir Mohamad
What are you talkin’ about Che Det? Full cake? We would like to know if this is not one your what the full moon moments.
UMNO in the post ’69 race riots came out with a dynamic analysis as opposed to static economic pie analysis. UMNO conned the entire nation into thinking that with a more equitable distribution of a growing economic pie, it does not have to be win- lose situation. Everybody gets their share of the pie. Some forty years when you and your ilk robbed the country blind, you are asking us to be happy with a “smaller slice of the cake”. Hello Che Det, hang pi balek juai apom balek di Pekan Rabu. Baru kami percaya.
No to International Mediator Role, says Dr. Mahathir
I agree with you Tun.
Guys, to be an International Mediator Role one has to have wide international connection. In this respect, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with his international and western connection is more suited to take up these International Mediator Role.
What say you guys and Din Merican.
_____________
The West, Russia and China won’t have him as international mediator. Tun Mahathir is just being presumptuous. That’s what I think, since you asked, Ilham.–Din Merican
when he can’t deal with the problems in own country dividing it in race lines how can he handle the problems of the world?
Din.Do you know why they confer Tun Mahathir Rafik Hariri U N habitat Memorial award.
____________
The Award Committee made the decision. The fact that Mahathir loaned Lebanon USD500 million could be a factor. The first recipient is Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey. –Din Merican
No to International Mediator Role, says Dr. Mahathir, yeah right, better not,or else unmasking you will reveal what you really are,shit happens,Oouch!!
Asking a racist to be an International Mediator, that’ll be the day. How can he be an International Mediator when he spews so much hatred for anything West and anything Jew?
For Illharm it’s like asking a monyet to perbaiki labu.
The real reason is that if he goes overseas, he cannot control the political circus which is at home. Then when government changes guess who will be the ifrst to be investigated. So, he has to make sure he is at home to make sure BN wins again.
and the other reason is as he says, ‘the world will not listen to him”, correct. He cannot stand that can he. In M’sia he can interfere but in the International forum, they will see right thru him and he wont last.
Just hoping that the Prestigious Award is not made purely in exchange for Lebanon not having to repay its Debt of RM1.5 billion ( USD 500 million) owing to the Malaysian people ?
Or, has it be repaid by now ? Sure ” prestigious ” IF the loan is all but forgotten, how Generous !
Abnizar,
It’s so obvious, no need to mention again. The question is
Where the money come from? Need to have Independent commission of truth on this matter
It’s a yes and a no. Yes, is because he’s causing us a lot of trouble both locally and Malaysians will prefer he goes away. No, because we pity the international community who will suffer under his style of management. With his tracks records he won’t stand a chance when seeking international support.
Hum…may to mediate among the African nations would be a better choice but please station him in Africa.
Come to think of it, it would be better as the role of the International Mischief Maker, for everyone sees it stark in the face, like that fellow who has propensity to create Fire-in-the Bush all over the show – and got quickly booted out faster than even having time to untie his shoe-lace….
Not so the International Mediator, whose smooth and cunning traits, has the propensity to ” double-cross ” people he is supposed to represent and protect their Interests – But lo , he protects only his own Self-interest, so forget about it ! !
Dr M is well suited for International roles, especially with countries like Zimbabwe, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Fiji, Cuba and the likes. They understand each other, perfectly.
I’m sure nobody of importance asked him in the first place. its probably a ‘paid for in advance’ question to boost his sagging image.
if I had a choice between this snake charmer and George W. Bush, I’d have chosen the latter.
He will be setting up himself for mockery by the international community if he did – and the Old Goat knows it too well. He’s not dumb.
its more important to ask who are those ‘guests’ who ‘privately asked’ him to be that mediator? HAHAHAH.
Thank God, he said no. Say no to Iago.