"It is always the right of the mighty which prevails over the weak, and that is very primitive."
"It is not true at all that a free market will ensure a democracy. It doesn't. There must be a balance between a free market and some regulations which are essential in order to safeguard the interests of consumers and of people in general."
"Most Americans, I think, know very little about East Asia or Southeast Asia. American businesspeople who have been here, they are very knowledgeable about this area, but the average American? No."
"When developing countries go to the WTO and register their protest over things, they should be heard. Their views should be considered by the rich countries."
"In Malaysia, trials have always been fair."
"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."
"If you want to be honest with yourself, you have to take criticism, even if you attract adverse comments from others."
"Big corporations don't just belong to one person or two persons but to a whole nation. If you let big corporations fail, then a lot of people are going to suffer."
"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."
"When I was first named as Deputy Prime Minister, there was a feeling of shock that I should be chosen because I was labeled as being an ultra and very anti-Chinese."
"Being a medical practitioner enables me to get in touch with people, understand their problems, feel sympathetic towards them, and the natural thing is to want to help them, and if you become a politician and if you are successful, you can help them even more."
"As a doctor, you are out on call most nights, so you don't get continuous sleep, and that becomes something that is familiar to you. So, working hard doesn't bother me."
"All leaders must have some power. Without power, you can't be a leader."
"Justice is the most important thing. In a plural society like Malaysia, you cannot have two laws - one law for the Muslim, one law for the non-Muslim."
"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."
"The West only talks about how you can militarily defeat the terrorists, but terrorists are very difficult to defeat because they can appear anywhere."
"I believe that currency trading should not be a business at all."
"There's no point in treating a currency like a commodity, devaluing it artificially and causing a lot of poverty among poor countries."
"Affirmative action is not something that the World Bank believes in or promotes."
"I don't care much whether people remember me or not. If people remember, well and good. If they don't remember, it's alright - I'm dead anyway."
"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."
"When you are in the government, you have to demonise your opposition."
"I've had quite a long time in government, and I've learned a few things."
"The little Napoleons in UMNO try to keep out people who are more intelligent than themselves."
"There is no such thing as absolute freedom of the press, not even in the most advanced countries in the world. There are things you just don't say, because it will destabilise the environment."
