Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not worried about the possibility of facing lawsuits for various things he had written, especially about his protégé-turned-nemesis, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his newly-released autobiography.
The longest-serving Malaysian prime minister said he was driven to tell the truth in his autobiography, A Doctor in the House: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which was released today.
"There will be those who will not be satisfied.
“When I was writing, I tried to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings but I had to write the truth and I think there will be people who will be upset.
"If they want to sue, sue lah," he quipped after launching his book at MidValley Megamall.
Dr Mahathir said he had kept the publication of his memoirs a secret until the launching date to avoid possible court injunctions to stop its publication.
"It took me eight years to complete the book.
"I want people to read it. Whatever they think of it is their prerogative," he said.
“We (Mahathir and family) fear that somebody might prevent the book from being sold and take an injunction against it. So, there was absolute fear, I was actually trembling,” Mahathir said in the familiar Mahathir-style sarcasm.
He said during his time as Prime Minister, he was described as a dictator and the book would prove his critics wrong.
"(In the autobiography) I tried to prove that I am not a dictator. But some people will still feel otherwise," he said, adding that he was expecting brickbats for exposing so much.
To a question from a foreigner, Dr Mahathir said through his book, he wanted to deliver the message that it was not impossible to achieve anything regardless of one’s upbringing as long as one was willing to learn.
"I was a commoner. I was not trained in the field of administration, economy or finance.
"But you can learn if you want to learn. The best reward is not the monetary gain but the result of your effort," he said.
He also talked about the challenges faced as prime minister, and how people must always pick themselves up when they fall, and move on.
“Many times, there were many challenges; both my politicians against me, and also international actions against the country and we could have fallen, we could have suffered terribly but we were determined that whatever happens, we must fight, and win and be able to stand up again.
“That’s my guiding principle in life that. If I’m thrown down, I’ll just try to get up,” he said.
The most controversial and anticipated part of the book would undeniably be the one on Anwar whom Mahathir devoted one whole chapter to. To this, he said that he didn’t expect Anwar to have reacted positively.
“I’m quite sure he has nothing good to say about me, about my book, about what I did. In fact he actually claims what I did was actually done by him,” he said, referring to his former deputy’s claims about the setting up of International Islamic University (UIA).
“He’s claiming credit for everything but he can claim, I don’t mind,” Mahathir said nonchalantly.
The 809-page book is priced at RM100 a copy and is available at MPH bookstores nationwide.
The book is also available for sale online through MPH
-Malaysian Digest-
"There will be those who will not be satisfied.
“When I was writing, I tried to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings but I had to write the truth and I think there will be people who will be upset.
"If they want to sue, sue lah," he quipped after launching his book at MidValley Megamall.
Dr Mahathir said he had kept the publication of his memoirs a secret until the launching date to avoid possible court injunctions to stop its publication.
"It took me eight years to complete the book.
"I want people to read it. Whatever they think of it is their prerogative," he said.
“We (Mahathir and family) fear that somebody might prevent the book from being sold and take an injunction against it. So, there was absolute fear, I was actually trembling,” Mahathir said in the familiar Mahathir-style sarcasm.
He said during his time as Prime Minister, he was described as a dictator and the book would prove his critics wrong.
"(In the autobiography) I tried to prove that I am not a dictator. But some people will still feel otherwise," he said, adding that he was expecting brickbats for exposing so much.
To a question from a foreigner, Dr Mahathir said through his book, he wanted to deliver the message that it was not impossible to achieve anything regardless of one’s upbringing as long as one was willing to learn.
"I was a commoner. I was not trained in the field of administration, economy or finance.
"But you can learn if you want to learn. The best reward is not the monetary gain but the result of your effort," he said.
He also talked about the challenges faced as prime minister, and how people must always pick themselves up when they fall, and move on.
“Many times, there were many challenges; both my politicians against me, and also international actions against the country and we could have fallen, we could have suffered terribly but we were determined that whatever happens, we must fight, and win and be able to stand up again.
“That’s my guiding principle in life that. If I’m thrown down, I’ll just try to get up,” he said.
The most controversial and anticipated part of the book would undeniably be the one on Anwar whom Mahathir devoted one whole chapter to. To this, he said that he didn’t expect Anwar to have reacted positively.
“I’m quite sure he has nothing good to say about me, about my book, about what I did. In fact he actually claims what I did was actually done by him,” he said, referring to his former deputy’s claims about the setting up of International Islamic University (UIA).
“He’s claiming credit for everything but he can claim, I don’t mind,” Mahathir said nonchalantly.
The 809-page book is priced at RM100 a copy and is available at MPH bookstores nationwide.
The book is also available for sale online through MPH
-Malaysian Digest-
Masa akan menentukan segalanya - risikonya tinggi tetapi apa perlu di takutkan jika sekiranya perkara yang benar itu tetap yang benar.
ReplyDeleteBelum berkesempatan untuk dapatkan buku ni. Buku ini mesti dimiliki. Saya dapat rasakan sesuatu kelainan tentang buku ini walaupun belum membacanya.
ReplyDeleteMesti Beli ! Jangan tak beli :)
ReplyDelete