The Sun – Mahathir’s most frightening moment
December 9, 2011 in Articles, Books etc, Media, Spotlight, Tun Dr. Mahathir
*Photo from themalaysianinsider.com
By Pauline Wong
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9, 2011): While Malaysians may know Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a man who neither minced his words nor feared his political enemies, the former premier today revealed that the moment which frightened him most in his 22 years of leadership was when he pegged the US dollar to the ringgit during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
“One of the things that frightened me most was when I fixed the dollar to the ringgit,” he told a large crowd at the Midvalley Exhibition Hall here, after the launch of the e-book version of his memoirs, “A Doctor in the House”.
He had said this in response to a question from a ‘fan’ on Facebook selected prior to the launch, which was organised by MPH Bookstores.
The fan had asked him how he was able to stay strong to realise his visions for the nation, to which Mahathir said “You will never know if your visions are realised, and because you don’t know, you are frightened.”
In 1998, Mahathir had pegged the US dollar at RM3.80, to much criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At that time, the ringgit had plummeted as a result of the financial crisis.
Mahathir, who was dressed in a light brown suit, nevertheless looked relaxed as he fielded questions, including what makes him the happiest.
“I am afraid my wife (Tun Dr Siti Hasmah) will be angry if I answered wrongly, so I am just going to say my wife makes me happiest,” he said to laughter from the crowd.
When asked if he had any other visions for the country after 2020, he jokingly said “I would no longer be around, so I can say anything I like” but added that all he wanted was ” a Malaysia that is peaceful and prosperous.”
Mahathir’s memoirs, which was first launched in March, will be available as an e-book for USD 15.99 (RM45) at MPHOnline.com, which was also simultaneously launched today.
The portal is Malaysia’s first e-book portal and more than 250,000 e-book titles are available for purchase and download.
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