Dr M: Malaysia’s stability due to power-sharing policy
The Star – 13/4/2006
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia continues to enjoy stability due to its power-sharing policy and the sacrifices made by its multi-ethnic communities.   
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the willingness to “give and take” had made Malaysia what it is today.   
The former prime minister said the Malays were willing to stop calling the country Tanah Melayu and adopted romanised alphabets instead of Jawi for their written language so that other races in this country could share knowledge.   
“The other races are also willing to make sacrifices. They understand that their demands cannot be fulfilled 100% and are willing to compromise and share the country's economy cake,” he said in his keynote address, Political Stability and Sustainability as a Key Success Factor in Developing Malaysia, at the Perdana discourse series at the Perdana Leadership Foundation (PLF) yesterday.  
Dr Mahathir said in the case of Iraq, there was a need for a “benevolent dictator” to ensure stability as the country had failed to maintain its democracy.  
He added that there was a need for a strong hand to stop people from becoming violent and creating chaos, and added that Iraqis did not understand democracy when asking to be democratic.  
“As a result, life for them is now worse under democracy than under a benevolent dictatorship. More people were killed in democratic Iraq compared with previously. Democracy killed them,” he said, adding that democracy was good but had limitations.   
“People need to learn how to make democracy work. Freedom cannot be exercised without caring for other people.”  
About 200 people, consisting of university students, academicians, senior civil servants and members of youth associations attended the one-day seminar at PLF.  
PLF board of trustees chairman Tan Sri Datuk Azman Hashim said Malaysia was fortunate to have leaders who implemented consistent and dynamic policies to ensure stability and sustainability.  
He said effective leadership and political stability were essential for economic progress.  
Source: The Star | http://thestar.com.my