Mahathir gets red-carpet treatment in Bali<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
Retiring Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad received
\nsuperstar treatment from most people here, from the driver of his
\nBMW limousine and hotel employees to foreign tourists and even
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The dean of Asian leaders also received a standing ovation
\nfrom about 200 businessmen who enthusiastically listened to his
\nbrief speech at Monday's session of the ASEAN business and
\ninvestment summit. The businessmen felt encouraged with his
\nstatement that private sector was one of the important secrets of
\nhis success to bring high and sustainable economic growth to his
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
They applauded when the minister dismissed cynical views among
\nthe public that close cooperation between the government and
\nbusiness world was the root of corruption and cronyism. Citing
\nhis own experience, he said none of his friends who entered the
\nbusiness world ever received any favors from him. His friends who
\nused his name to get a foot into the private sector but without
\nany business skill would quickly fail.<\/p>\n
"That is business," said the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
The 77-year-old politician pointed out that it was very
\nimportant for governments to have good relations with business
\nbecause if business grows well the government can collect tax
\nfrom the business without any risk his government would suffer
\nfrom loss if the private sector fails in their business. He said
\nthe worst thing a government could face would be no longer having
\nbusinesses to tax.<\/p>\n
Citing his own experience he said the Malaysian government
\ntaxed 28 percent of each ringgit earned by the private sector
\nfrom their business activities.<\/p>\n
"If you make money, me make money. But if you lose money,
\nthat's your business," the smiling Prime Minister said while the
\naudience burst into raucous laughter.<\/p>\n
Mahathir also noted the importance of privatization of state
\nenterprises. His experience in selling a government
\ntelecommunications group to private investors made him more
\nconfident because the value of the company was only about 200
\nmillion ringgit, and now its value had sky-rocketed to billions
\nof ringgit.<\/p>\n
Mahathir is ASEAN's longest serving elected prime minister. He
\nwill be the second ASEAN leader to leave the political stage with
\ndignity after Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew who
\nremained powerful despite his retirement as prime minister in the
\nearly 1990s. Meanwhile Indonesia's Soeharto is still remembered
\nby many people as a good ASEAN leader, but he was forced to end
\nhis 32-year regime by a "people's power" movement. After
\nSoeharto's departure in 1998, Mahathir became the most senior
\nleader in the regional organization.<\/p>\n
"I don't think anybody should worry just because I am
\nresigning ... ASEAN has already been put on a firm footing and it
\nwill carry on," Mahathir told reporters after delivering his
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
This summit will be a farewell summit for him. President
\nMegawati is scheduled to host a gala dinner to honor him on the
\nsidelines of the summit.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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