BBC HARD TALK with Malaysian Former Prime Minister 2/3

Dr Mahathir Mohamed talks to Stephen Sackur 2/3
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During his term in office, Dr Mahathir turned Malaysia into a regional high-tech manufacturing, financial, and telecommunications hub through his economic policies based on corporate nationalism, known as the various "Malaysia Plans" which set out the government middle-term objectives. These policies with strong Keynesian tendency remained in effect almost to the end of his tenure in office.
Dr Mahathir is credited with spearheading the phenomenal growth of the Malaysian economy, now one of the largest in South East Asia.

Growth between 1988 and 1997 averaged over ten percent and living standards rose twentyfold, with poverty relatively almost eradicated and social indicators such as literacy levels and infant mortality rates becoming almost on par with developed countries.

During this period, Dr Mahathir embarked on various large scale national projects, such as the North-South Expressway, Multimedia Super Corridor, the planned capital city of Putrajaya, Johor's Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the Bakun Dam in Sarawak, and the Petronas Twin Towers.

During the Asian financial crisis of 1997, IMF had prescribed a recovery package for Malaysia, but Dr Mahathir defied international pressure, his then rejecting the package. Though economic prosperity has been mixed since then, Mahathir argued that Malaysia's recovery was relatively faster and better, as compared to many other Asian countries affected. After the financial crisis, the IMF and World Bank acknowledged that Dr Mahathir's approach had worked.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• UMNO
• MIC
• MCA
• Tun
• Dr
• Mahathir
• Malays
• Malaysia

[chgleo]

He is our only best of the best leader. thank to god because of him we are here.....

[janicemcbanks]

Dr Mahathir is a liar...a big huge liar. I thought he was great, oh but how wrong I was. He is one of the most corrupted politician ever. I suggest you people watch A Malaysian Dream - Life and Times of Lim Kit Siang and see a different point of view from another politician before you decide that Mahathir is the best. I totally agree with Stephen - he is the one making sense. Mahathir is in denial.

[midorikirin]

Puas hati aku tengok Cek Det tonyoh muka Mat salleh yg poyo tu dgn jawapan yg bernas dan pedas. Kalo Pak Lah sure dh nangis kena soalan cam tuh. Kalo Najib lak, terdiam sebab xde script nk baca.

[ilovemusic6223]

haha....Mahathir 100% owned.....

[ilovemusic6223]

Law of the country my ASS...fuck you Mahathir!!!..LOL.....bullshit ...

[PeaCork1]

Lol mahathir is a liar?Pfft if you know how to read body language u can tell for a fact that he ain't liar.Read Body Language if you don't believe me.Liar smile less and he smile when he answered every of those question.Plus from his answer you can tell he's a wise man and play along with Sackur's game without making himself look like an idiot in fact it is the other way around.

[mscarmenchong]

@undiscloseddesired To whoever this is. From your statement, this proves you are not only lacking of common sense ( which is quite rare these days), YOU are THAT kind of people who divides our nation. Such close-mindedness.

[undiscloseddesired]

@janicemcbanks u should check your facts. Lim Kit Siang is a TOTAL JOKE and same goes to u peep. sorry.

[Watchman574]

@Battl3mania

the way u wrote clearly shows what kind of people you're...

you brain tell u what u wrote and you're hearts mould the way you think..and if this is what you think.. hahahha clearly..

[TheCnidarians]

anwar ibrahim come to power? fuck no, thats the last man i want leading my country...tgk muka pun aku dah tahu penipu besar, thank god thank you mahathir for the 22 years, if not because of him, we would have devastating depression, brits pun tak guna, ko tgk bertapa corrupt system diorang..

[mofaz1968]

I wish malays, chinese or indians who feel they have no future being a Malaysian just emigrate elsewhere, I'm sure Aussies, US or the Brits will welcome you all with open arms and smiles ..

[mofaz1968]

malaysian who said KLIA , KLCC, Sepang F1 are mega wasteful projects by Dr M yet today these very so call wasteful projects that become image of a Modern Malaysia ..what have the Chinese rasisct opposition and so called radical Islamist opposition party done for Malaysia .. Zero except to oppose. Penang Bridge was deemed a wasteful mega project yet today we are building a second bridge ..just shows Dr M was a brilliant leader..