Mahathir Mohamad

“The Jews are not merely hook-nosed but understand money instinctively.”

“The little Napoleons in UMNO try to keep out people who are more intelligent than themselves.”

“The West only talks about how you can militarily defeat the terrorists, but terrorists are very difficult to defeat because they can appear anywhere.”

“Running a democratic country is one of the most difficult things for any government.”

“Money is not something you just print. It must be backed by something, either good economy or gold.”

“I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in the world who has resigned while still quite healthy.”

“Whenever I am asked who I admire most among the leaders I have met, I have no hesitation in naming Nelson Mandela.”

“Free press is not absolute. In this country, we say clearly if you start stirring up racial hatred, then we will put a stop to it. We might even close down your paper, because these things can only lead to a lot of riots and bloodshed.”

“Doctors look after me. But, basically, I look after myself. I don't overeat. I don't develop a big paunch. I do a little bit of exercise. At the same time, I believe that if you don't work, you will decay. The decay process is through not using your faculties - not using your brain, not using your body.”

“Malaysia has got all the things in place to continue growth: the policies are there; the mechanisms are there. So, I think even when I am not around, Malaysia can do with other people who are converse with our policies.”

“I want to leave UMNO because it is no longer UMNO. It is a party dedicated to supporting Mr. Najib, to protecting Mr. Najib, to upholding whatever it is that he does, including some of the wrong things that he has done. I cannot be a member of such a party.”

“I'm followed everywhere - it has become normal for me.”

“If we keep on raking up the past, you can never work with anybody. You will always be fighting against your enemies, and that is bad.”

“If you look at the Malaysian media, you will find that, although some are supportive of the government, many are not, and they are very critical of the government.”

“Forcing some countries to accept democracy is something that should not be done.”

“I'm basically a creature of habit - I do practically the same thing every week, every day of every week: I go to the office, I meet people, I write, I read, and, of course, I give lectures.”

“The biggest mistake that I have made in my life is choosing Najib.”

“I don't believe that you should punish the people of Iraq because you don't like their leader. Saddam Hussein is not being punished. He's fat, and he is eating enough food and living in palaces. But his people are punished by denying them food and medicine.”

“In Malaysia, trials have always been fair.”