KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 – Proving there is still no love lost between him and his erstwhile political protege, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not know anything about the economy.
“He is a good speaker but not about economics. If you want to bankrupt Selangor, that’s the good advisor.
“Of course, you pay him RM1, you’ll get RM1 worth,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama after a special lecture on ‘Asia and the 21st Century’ at the Asia-Europe Eminent Persons Lecture Series here Monday.
Dr Mahathir said that Anwar, when he was in the Cabinet as finance minister, almost brought Malaysia to its knees during the financial crisis.
“He adopted the International Monetary Fund and made the matter worse. I don’t think he knows anything about (the) economy,” he said when commenting on Anwar’s appointment as economic advisor to the Selangor Government.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announced that Anwar was appointed economic advisor to the state government, with a fixed monthly allowance of RM1, when wrapping up the debate on the state’s 2010 Budget last Friday.

written by desperado, November 16, 2009
written by jtan, November 16, 2009
written by bluehyppo7771, November 16, 2009
Look at KOrea, thailand and indonesia,
They are starting in improve a a faster pace. And malaysia keep on slipping.
If IMF solution is implemented, only UMNO crony will be wipe out, as for malaysia, we will gain in a long term.
written by Steven Soh, November 16, 2009
"But since I know-it-all, and was so much wiser and smarter than him, I appointed him Finance Minister in my cabinet." See the (il)logic!!
written by greateagleone, November 16, 2009
All these years even when interviewed by foreign press or Hard Talk he had evaded when asked about his Indian roots claiming to be Malay and Bumi.Why now???Simple, when asked by LKY his reason for not writing his memoirs,he answered with the most ridiculous answer about his hand writing not being good when he can write about the Malay Dilemma before ascending to be PM.Writing memoirs or biography is subject to scrutiny and critics for facts of which for the viper much must be kept behind close doors, and limited to readership.Here on HISTORY CHANNEL with world wide audience he can say and tell whatever lies he wants to put himself in a veil of pure white sheet and knowing that in this case a TV picture paints a billion words.
written by Ivan, November 16, 2009
written by bufflobill, November 16, 2009
Despite not being very aggressive, Pak Lah spent most of the money paying up the foreign debts that you created and if not for him our economy would have been worst then Singapore or any other nations. This you weren't happy, as this reduced your take and continued critisising his administration and now Anuar pulak.......
Baik duduk kat rumah dan main dgn anak cucu
written by Holy Smoke, November 16, 2009
written by Katak2, November 16, 2009
Once the oil wells dry up in Petronas in about 15 yrs time...you will have nothing left to plunder and who suffers? The Rakyat.
written by Abdullah, November 16, 2009
written by Danny, November 16, 2009
written by mira, November 16, 2009
written by Taikohtai, November 16, 2009
written by Vincent Raj, November 16, 2009
Mahathir didn't train in economics as well, in fact he made plenty of blunders, i'll mention only 2 at the moment. The first one was the inception of a national car -proton, it's always been a failure in fact it has eaten into the national reserves just to maintain it's name all because it's associated with TDM. It should have been sold off long time ago. The more recent blunder is the twin towers. It has put malaysia on the map, but not necessary boosted tourism, in fact the oweings on it is mind boggling. It was another one of mahatirs personal need for self glorification but not beneficial to the society. With the savings from this colossal projects we could have improved the level of poverty in the country and made sure we had a quality society that can help improve the country's economy.
written by Arul Inthirarajah, November 16, 2009
written by Param, November 16, 2009
You are big time blood sucker.....do not talk about other people!
written by zackeye, November 16, 2009
written by zakk, November 16, 2009
We must not forget that during the tenure of Dr. M, our currency became less than half of that of Singapore, a country with minimal natural resources. How did he accomplish this? With his great economic knowledge?
written by sam, November 16, 2009
Haha, go ahead Anwar, bankrupt Selangor if you can,
written by Ben bernanke, November 16, 2009
one of his son is a billionaire. So mahathir is the smartest.
written by edward, November 16, 2009
I am not a fanatic of either Dr M or Anwar. I believe in giving a credit when it is due.
The fact that Anwar was appointed by Dr M during the good old days showed that Dr M was not speaking the truth about Anwar's capabilities. The appointment of a minister and the assignment of his/her portfolio has been the SOLE prerogative of the Prime Minister.
So, if Anwar was stupid and the person who wanted to appoint him knows about Anwar's stupidity (about economy), let the Malaysians judge about who was worse than the other.
written by JS, November 16, 2009
written by Steppenwolf, November 16, 2009
Almost 40% of loans went into unproductive property development and massive projects like Bakun, KLCC, Cyberjaya, and Putrajaya. And financial mismanagement in GLCs like Tenega, Renong that borrowed too much in foreign debt and foreign currency (at the same time did not engage in currency hedging), resulted in inability to repay their debts.
They ended up bankcrupt and ask for government bail-outs, or in other words, the tax-payers' money.
After Dr M era, came Pak Lah who, in order to maintain his popularity, ran the government into massive deficit. This was the time when the public servants outnumbered taxpayers, making another Number One for Malaysia. And the side effect lingers until now.
Actually all finance ministers in this country in past decade or two, were of 3rd or 4th grade quality. None was capable or qualified.
Their quality was only for positions like Tresurer in Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Kampung Berok. Nothing more!
written by Jason, November 16, 2009
written by tony, November 16, 2009
written by aca, November 16, 2009
Prepare for your life in the hereafter, could you Pharoah.
written by publicright, November 16, 2009
written by young muslim constituent, November 16, 2009
written by whatsayyou, November 16, 2009
written by Anak Angkat, November 16, 2009
What of your second choice with his hands bloodied by the shit he has in them involving Helicopter, Arms, Submarines and the mother of all evil- the murder of a certain Mongoilian person. May you burn in hell for your destruction of a beautifu country and for your own PERSONAL GREED FOR POWER AND MONEY.
written by Hash, November 16, 2009
written by Peru, November 16, 2009
written by AgreeToDisagree, November 16, 2009
Ops Lallang. ISA Arrests. Judicial Crisis 1988. Nepotism in Maritime Bailouts. Nepotism in Circumvention of Syariah prohibitions for Haram Industries. Creation of Illegal AP System, burdening the people with Toll Concessions, making water deals with Singapore at 3 cents to 50 cents, Institutionalization of Apartheid and Racism, destroying democracy with cronyism, corruption etc.. Nothing good on this man's watch. He just built on the fact that Malaysia was a Straits Settlement and had English speaking peoples that could attract business. Anyone could have done the same AND BETTER. That however has been eroded by education policies as well.
This is a Malaysian leader? Anwar right person to put you away for good.
written by vegetarian, November 16, 2009
written by NutzeyWagen, November 16, 2009
So who was the one that appointed DSAI as finance minister? The person who did must be worse off than DSAI. Imagine appointing someone who does not know about the economy as finance minister. So what does the person who appointed him knows? NOTHING!!! Why else would he appoint DSAI as finance minister then?
But then, DSAI isn't half as good as DrM. DSAI might (read: might) bankrupt Selangor, but it's not proven yet, but DrM had proven that he bankrupted 1Msia when he was pm. No? Then ask paklah. Paklah, when he took over as pm, said projects had to be put on hold, terminated or postponed because 1Msia's funds are almost dry. Meaning no more money. BANKRUPT!
written by Petaling Man, November 16, 2009
- What have we achieved in the last 52 yrs?
- Why are we still poor despite all the natural resources that we have?
- Why are our neighbours progressing better despite no natural resources?
- Why are the standards in our education system dropping?
Why? Why? Why?... The answer is simple ! We have clowns governing the country ! Period !
Clowns and thieves with no proper education and are qualifications are leading the country !
It's time that we all as citizens of Malaysia must put a stop to this.
written by csa, November 16, 2009
written by slyderrose, November 16, 2009
written by chinese malaysian, November 16, 2009
written by Jason, November 17, 2009
written by Joe, November 17, 2009
I heard it was RM13 billiuon, others said RM30 billions.
That was really mthrowing away our money.
written by chen shiung, November 17, 2009
imf dosage was given to korea thailand and indonesia
..the worst affected nations during the financial crisis
the measures introduced in these countries tightened
financial controls, reduce deficits, improved governance
curtailed extravagance and reduced corruption and wastage
mahathir did what he wanted and enhanced cronyism and nepotism
these nations are now more productive efficient and competitive
..more able withstand the current and future financial turmoil
with confidence and certainty
written by Badawee, November 17, 2009
Mahathir, you had a goldern chance to transform Malaysia into a real leading nation in Asia with all our resources, yet today, most ordinary Malaysians can't even afford to visit Singapore or Taiwan with their low income and dying ringgit. You had 22 years of "absolute power" yet you fail to wipe out corruption and crime, and instead, the country is now in deep shit.
Mahathir, have you really sat down even once to asked yourself what is it that you have really done for your country ( you have done alot for your family, no dispute there)? Sure, you built the world's tallest twin towers using people's money ie Petronas,... using foreign architects, foreign contractors, foreign technology and even foreign labour to do that. And you also built colossial ghost towns called Putrajaya and cyberjaya again using people's money. And let's not forget you made the famous Proton that made Malaysians drive inferior cars at exorbitant prices or that fantastic Perwaja steel plant with that fantastic CEO that you personally hired to turn things around, but ended up turning upside down. Perhaps, if you had stayed longer, you might add that crooked bridge half way to Singapore and that world's longest bridge to link Malaysia to Indonesia.
Gee Mahathir, you must be really proud of yourself...that's why others are useless in your eyes.
written by ROARING LION, November 17, 2009





Before 1997, Malaysia is still regarded as one of the international financial center and our currency is recognized, today, no one think of Malaysia highly, our currency is not recognized. Sighs. Tell me who don't know about economy. Dr M, you are the one that make us so poor today.