SINGAPORE : Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamed thinks Asians are waiting for a credible leader from a credible nation.
Dr Mahathir was speaking at the 2nd Leadership in Asia lecture organised by the Singapore Management University.
Mr Ho Kwon Ping, Chairman of SMU, said: "Dr Mahathir has surely never been called a follower. He has always led by example and from the front, and in blunt straight-forward language."
And sure enough when the man himself took to the stage, he lived up to that introduction.
In a short speech peppered with witty jibes at the West, Dr Mahathir lamented the current state of Asian leadership.
Dr Mahathir said: "I believe that Asians are waiting for a leader, a credible leader from a credible nation. Those who kowtow too much to ethnic-Europeans should not be surprised if their people rise against them and commit acts of terror or whatever.
"Asian leaders have a choice. Assume and assert true leadership, seize the initiative in terms of ideas and thoughts, restore self-respect or face the humiliation of foreign hegemony and the contempt of their own people."
During an hour-long question-and-answer session that followed, many students, professors, businessmen and former ambassadors took turns to quiz Dr Mahathir for his views on a wide range of issues - from democracy and leadership in Asia, to Iraq, the Muslim world and Malaysian politics. And inevitably, the Anwar question was raised yet again.
He was asked what will happen to Malaysian politics and democracy now that Anwar Ibrahim is free?
Dr Mahathir said: "I have no doubt he will try to make a comeback but it will be a futile effort. He can cause a lot of problem but the present government will be able to handle that, I am not worried about that, as for me, of course, I am out of the picture."
He was also asked for his take on Singapore-Malaysia ties, especially after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Mahathir said: "When I became Prime Minister in 1981, I made a trip and saw Mr Lee Kuan Yew - yes it was nice initially but we will never know what will happen later, things change, so I am glad all the problems I created has now been relegated to the background and I hope they will never come back."
You can watch excerpts of Dr Mahathir's speech on a Channel NewsAsia Special on Asian Leadership this Saturday at 8 pm. - CNA
What is he trying to say???