Mahathir hits out at West<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad hit out at Western-style democracy yesterday, saying it
\nled to economic decline.<\/p>\n
High wages gave workers in the West a lifestyle comparable to
\nthat of the rich in developing countries, he said in a speech to
\na convention celebrating his United Malays National
\nOrganization's (UMNO) 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n
But it also brought high unemployment and contributed to
\ngovernment debt through higher welfare payments, said Mahathir, a
\nfrequent critic of the West.<\/p>\n
"While it is true that the unemployed in developed countries
\nget more allowances than workers in a developing country, in a
\ndeclining economy the government does not have enough funds to
\nfinance the increasing number of unemployed.<\/p>\n
"Hence, the government's debt increases and the country's
\neconomy becomes weaker."<\/p>\n
All democratic countries in the West "which are inclined
\ntoward Socialism" are suffering economic decline with high
\nunemployment, he declared.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's system of democracy is based on the British model,
\nwith a constitutional monarchy and a parliament.<\/p>\n
UMNO is the dominant party in a multi-racial coalition
\ngovernment that has ruled Malaysia -- almost always with a two-
\nthirds majority in parliament -- since independence from Britain
\nin 1957.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said Western-style democracy, with its frequent
\nchanges of government and the importance given to an opposition,
\nhad virtually turned into a religion.<\/p>\n
"They come up with the slogan vox populi, vox Dei which is
\n'the majority's voice is God's voice'. But, believe it, democracy
\nis not God's voice and is far from perfect," he said.<\/p>\n
Its tyranny of the majority can victimize people as badly as a
\nfeudalistic or dictatorial system, he added.<\/p>",
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