I work at 93 because it can be done, says Dr Mahathir


Chan Kok Leong

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has no plans to slow down even though he is 93 years old. He believes that one must work for the change that one wants to see. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, October 21, 2018.

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to work at 93 years of age because he wants to show that it can be done.

“We must always have hope. If we give up, there won’t be any change. Even if it’s hard we must try.

“That is why I try to continue working and why people call me a workaholic. I want to show that we can work even at 93,” he said during an interview on Astro Awani tonight.

“We cannot complain that this is dirty or that is dangerous and don’t do anything. I believe that if we give our work to others, we will be enslaved by them,” said Dr Mahathir.

He was responding to a question on what gave him hope for the future.

During the hour-long interview, Dr Mahathir said that the Malaysia cannot depend on cheap foreign labour alone.

“When we employ mostly foreign labour, they will earn money here and then repatriate the money and there will be capital outflow.

“I visit many construction sites here but I hardly see any Malays. But when I go to Japan, all their construction people are Japanese.”

He said that many of the houses in Langkawi for instance are built by Thais.

“Do we only want to work in air-conditioned rooms?”

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says people’s perception towards the government has changed a lot in the last five months and there have been no complaints of corruption in the new administration. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 21, 2018.

He said the younger generation must change their attitude if they want to move ahead.

“Recently, the agriculture deputy minister spoke to farmers and fishermen about improving their incomes and they asked for incentives.

“Why should we give incentives for them to do better for themselves? Isn’t making more an incentive in itself?”

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir gave his ministers a “40-50” mark in their first five months in government.

“Although they didn’t have any experience, they are learning fast. During the cabinet meetings, they are learning how to govern and not just be the opposition.

“This is not easy but so far there’s nothing untoward yet,” said Dr Mahathir when asked how he rated his Cabinet.

During the interview, Dr Mahathir said that people’s perception towards the government has changed a lot in the last five months.

“They can now deal with the government without any corruption. So far, there has been no complaint from the corporate side that we are corrupt.

“When we changed governments there was no more corruption because people are scared of the steps we have taken to fight corruption. Not many people see this, but it is a success.

“Government officers are no longer trying to enrich themselves because the characteristics of the government has changed,” said Dr Mahathir. – October 21, 2018.


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Comments


  • Syabas PH Government.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tam Yan Cheng · Reply

  • Dr M, you are a very pragmatic man. That is why we need you to steer and govern the country out of its financially precarious situation.
    The nation needs to be groomed and revitalised until is is able to sustainably yield. You know what it takes to achieve this and therefore you need to lead this nation - as long as it takes.
    There is no one person in the government now who has your passion and caliber to do what you are doing today. Please continue, Sir.

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • I wish to dedicate this famous English poem "You Are Old, Father William" which we can Google and read online. This humorous poem appears in the established children's book classic "ALICE's ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND" by Lewis Carroll. Enjoy!..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Can civil society take all steps and prevail on the Pakatan Harapan group of component parties & Anwar to allow/invite Dr. Mahathir to continue with his good work of leadership and helm Malaysia beyond 2O2O until we are in safer waters?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Please continue to govern Tun M.

    Posted 7 years ago by Richard L · Reply

  • Bumiputeralism is a welfarism in disguise. The consequences this policy has brought to our people will be felt for many generations.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • in 1993 when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was then also the Prime Minister, Malaysia held International conventions by oil palm producers of the world.
    PORIM researches (which dealt with palm oil matters of Malaysia) researched of Malaysia founded the goodness of the VITAMIN E content for long life was available in Malaysian oil Palm.DrMahathir knows about it but the Malaysian public gets none of the VITAMIN E because it is produced only to be exported to overseas markets, MPOPC said.
    I am certain the governing body of Malaysian palm oil producers that is called MPOIPC before gave away free Vitamin E to Tun Dr Mahathir but the poor miserable and terminally ill Malaysians never got to taste the tocotrienols of our palm oil.
    vitamin E of this tocotrienol type that the Scientists said can be used intravenously to cure Cancers in humans.Tun Dr Mathathir's memory can remember manydetails so he cannot deny these important medical details.
    Vitamin E is very ,very good for longevity.
    A TAXI DRIVER said that he carried Foreign Investors from the Airport often and the foreign investors refered to Dr.Mahathir as the '10% Man' because the taxi driver said the passenger investors told that as an investor he was asked to give/pay that amount share to DrMahathi!!!!

    May DrMahathir Mohamad live with a long and healthy life and make the OIL PALM tree become very famous.I am 100% certain that Dr Mahathir swallows lots of Vitamins daily including VitaminE.
    I urge you all in the Spirit of Truth that evolves from Almighty Creator God please pray for our Leaders, the present leader,and for he future leaders.
    Come on, Khairy Jamaludin, say something
    Amen & Amin.

    Posted 7 years ago by Luxshmi Sriyan NH De Silva · Reply

  • Tun M more power to you. We want you to continue as long possible until you choose to quit for health reasons. We see no one capable of holding PH together the rakyat is strongly behind you.

    Posted 7 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply