Mahathir gets red-carpet treatment in Bali

Mahathir gets red-carpet treatment in Bali

The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

Retiring Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad received
superstar treatment from most people here, from the driver of his
BMW limousine and hotel employees to foreign tourists and even
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The dean of Asian leaders also received a standing ovation
from about 200 businessmen who enthusiastically listened to his
brief speech at Monday's session of the ASEAN business and
investment summit. The businessmen felt encouraged with his
statement that private sector was one of the important secrets of
his success to bring high and sustainable economic growth to his
country.

They applauded when the minister dismissed cynical views among
the public that close cooperation between the government and
business world was the root of corruption and cronyism. Citing
his own experience, he said none of his friends who entered the
business world ever received any favors from him. His friends who
used his name to get a foot into the private sector but without
any business skill would quickly fail.

"That is business," said the Prime Minister.

The 77-year-old politician pointed out that it was very
important for governments to have good relations with business
because if business grows well the government can collect tax
from the business without any risk his government would suffer
from loss if the private sector fails in their business. He said
the worst thing a government could face would be no longer having
businesses to tax.

Citing his own experience he said the Malaysian government
taxed 28 percent of each ringgit earned by the private sector
from their business activities.

"If you make money, me make money. But if you lose money,
that's your business," the smiling Prime Minister said while the
audience burst into raucous laughter.

Mahathir also noted the importance of privatization of state
enterprises. His experience in selling a government
telecommunications group to private investors made him more
confident because the value of the company was only about 200
million ringgit, and now its value had sky-rocketed to billions
of ringgit.

Mahathir is ASEAN's longest serving elected prime minister. He
will be the second ASEAN leader to leave the political stage with
dignity after Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew who
remained powerful despite his retirement as prime minister in the
early 1990s. Meanwhile Indonesia's Soeharto is still remembered
by many people as a good ASEAN leader, but he was forced to end
his 32-year regime by a "people's power" movement. After
Soeharto's departure in 1998, Mahathir became the most senior
leader in the regional organization.

"I don't think anybody should worry just because I am
resigning ... ASEAN has already been put on a firm footing and it
will carry on," Mahathir told reporters after delivering his
speech.

This summit will be a farewell summit for him. President
Megawati is scheduled to host a gala dinner to honor him on the
sidelines of the summit.