Malaysia is particularly sensitive: we have three races here and 29 different tribes. If you allow people to say what they like, there will be violence, confrontations, and all that. We need stability.

When you are in the government, you have to demonise your opposition.

There's no point in treating a currency like a commodity, devaluing it artificially and causing a lot of poverty among poor countries.

The West only talks about how you can militarily defeat the terrorists, but terrorists are very difficult to defeat because they can appear anywhere.

All leaders must have some power. Without power, you can't be a leader.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It is always the right of the mighty which prevails over the weak, and that is very primitive.