Mahathir Mohamad

"I hope that you will take this opportunity to understand this region better and to explore ways and means of establishing better cooperation between American businessmen and financiers with ASEANs counterparts."

"Only when Islam is interpreted so as to be relevant in a world which is different from what it was 1,400 years ago can Islam be regarded as a religion for all ages."

"What we need today if we are to achieve some semblance of a fair distribution of international wealth is sincerity based on true friendship and a clear understanding of the moral obligations that we all have towards each other."

"The ASEAN nations are not intending to compete with the developed countries. Rather they wish to complement."

"Our economic policies are based on clear and definite political objectives. If we impose conditions on foreign investors, it is not because we grudge you your profits, but because we have a need to reconcile foreign economic incursions with national aspirations."

"We do not nationalize, for example. [...] The predictability pertaining to economic policies is our asset."

"The political stability we achieve is, for you, much more worthwhile commercially than the short-term profits you might make."

"Malaysia is ruled by conservatives whose only desire is to develop the country for the benefit of the people. Radicalism and extremism has been rejected not only by the Government but also by the people."

"The poor countries need help — not handouts, but a helping hand for their development."

"We intend to have a firm grip [on inflation] through fiscal and monetary discipline."

"Scientific and technological knowledge like all other forms of knowledge, we believe, increases as you share it with others."

"We are not about to invent the wheel again, but the application of discoveries and inventions originating elsewhere is part of the exercise in self-reliance."