Mahathir Mohamad Quotes
Corruption is found everywhere. I admit there is some corruption in my staff - not me.
Mohamad, Mahathir. Interview. Time, 24 Oct. 2006.
The United States had just ousted the popularly elected leader Patrice Lumumba {640611}, and backed Mobuto. Lumumba was an idealist who was not corrupt at all, but were not so sure about our new protégé. Sadly he turned out to be one of the worst kleptocrats of all time, and he stole with more United States money than we gave to many nations in toto. Many believe that one of the reasons, corruption of our “allied” leaders was so bad lies in the wording of this cable. Note that to the State Department writers there was “normal” corruption as opposed to excessive corruption. Once that view is taken there is a constant battle to determine whether each new act of corruption is “normal “ or not, and corruption is simply lessened by pushing back against the most abnormal schemes. These critics advocate a zero tolerance for corruption especially with United States AID money. The State Department has been ambivalent and have often used the corruption system to bribe leaders to obtain national objectives.
The leaders and creators of these anti-corruption organizations get kickbacks from corrupt officials and organizations to be sure that they do not get investigated and exposed. In some cases they frame an honest politician who would not pay them and accuse him of corruption to show the public that they are cracking down on corruption. Or they go after corrupt politicians who are going against the regime on political matters. Not all anti-corruption and reform organizations are corrupt themselves, but many are. But the methods of corruption thoughout the world are becoming more and more sophisticated as the simple forms are being exposed by media and reform groups.
Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad is a Malaysian politician, statesman, author and doctor who served as the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia from July 1981 to October 2003 and again from May 2018 to March 2020. He served as the 4th Deputy Prime Minister and in many other Cabinet positions before his promotion to the premiership in July 1981. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langkawi since May 2018, Kubang Pasu from August 1974 to March 2004 and Kota Setar Selatan from April 1964 to May 1969. His political career has spanned more than 70 years, starting with his participation in protests against non-Malays gaining Malaysian citizenship during the Malayan Union through to forming his own political parties, the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) in September 2016 and the Homeland Fighters' Party (PEJUANG) in August 2020.
