Former PM in his element as he slams Western style of doing things and the TPP at international conference.
TOKYO: Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told an international conference the secret to longevity, while reiterating that the Trans-Pacific Partnership was not good.
His formula for a long and healthy life is not to overeat and to keep the body and mind busy. Overeating, he said, was the reason for the rise in obesity.
Speaking at the 22nd Future of Asia conference here, he reiterated his stand that the Trans-Pacific partnership was not good for Malaysia and other countries.
He said regional trade agreements were not always beneficial for member nations. This was because nations were obliged to agree to trade rules that could affect their “freedom of action”, something that could be especially problematic for less-developed nations.
The Nikkei Asian Review quoted him as saying: “When economies are at different levels, you cannot apply standard formulas.”
However, Mahathir was supportive of the Asean drive for greater integration, saying the Asean Economic Community did not impose a standard formula on all members.
He said poorer countries should be given time and should not be restricted in the way they managed their economies, so that they could catch up with the rich countries.
This was Mahathir’s 18th appearance at the annual Future of Asia conference organised by Nikkei Inc.
At 90, the report said, Mahathir remained energetic and eloquent.
Asked about his secret to longevity and health, he said: “One is, never overeat. My mother always told me that when the food tastes good, that’s the time you must stop eating.”
“Later as a doctor, I realised why. When the food is good, you tend to overeat; and when you overeat, your stomach increases in size, and in order to stop your hunger, you eat more food. That is the problem the world is facing today with obesity: people are eating too much.”
He also said one should keep on working. “When you keep your mind and body active, I think it will be good for you.”
The Nikkei report said Mahathir’s disapproval of the “Western style” of doing things, whether in trade or politics, was apparent throughout his appearance at the conference, especially when he spoke about democracy in Asean.
Countering Western criticism of democratic shortcomings in Southeast Asia, Mahathir said: “For democracies to work well, it will take time. I would say that you have to tolerate some of the wrong things done by people who are trying to be democratic.
“Among the developed democracies of the West, there seems to be no toleration. If you are not doing what they are doing, if you are not as liberal, then you are not democratic.
“But it is really difficult for a new country (to suddenly become democratic). We need to deal with the multiracial population, we need to have some control over even the media, because we don’t want the people to be agitating all the time to overthrow the government and sabotage the economy. I would say that you need a little time, and you need to be more tolerant.”
TOKYO: Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told an international conference the secret to longevity, while reiterating that the Trans-Pacific Partnership was not good.His formula for a long and healthy life is not to overeat and to keep the body and mind busy. Overeating, he said, was the reason for the rise in obesity.
Speaking at the 22nd Future of Asia conference here, he reiterated his stand that the Trans-Pacific partnership was not good for Malaysia and other countries.
He said regional trade agreements were not always beneficial for member nations. This was because nations were obliged to agree to trade rules that could affect their “freedom of action”, something that could be especially problematic for less-developed nations.
The Nikkei Asian Review quoted him as saying: “When economies are at different levels, you cannot apply standard formulas.”
However, Mahathir was supportive of the Asean drive for greater integration, saying the Asean Economic Community did not impose a standard formula on all members.
He said poorer countries should be given time and should not be restricted in the way they managed their economies, so that they could catch up with the rich countries.
This was Mahathir’s 18th appearance at the annual Future of Asia conference organised by Nikkei Inc.
At 90, the report said, Mahathir remained energetic and eloquent.
Asked about his secret to longevity and health, he said: “One is, never overeat. My mother always told me that when the food tastes good, that’s the time you must stop eating.”
“Later as a doctor, I realised why. When the food is good, you tend to overeat; and when you overeat, your stomach increases in size, and in order to stop your hunger, you eat more food. That is the problem the world is facing today with obesity: people are eating too much.”
He also said one should keep on working. “When you keep your mind and body active, I think it will be good for you.”
The Nikkei report said Mahathir’s disapproval of the “Western style” of doing things, whether in trade or politics, was apparent throughout his appearance at the conference, especially when he spoke about democracy in Asean.
Countering Western criticism of democratic shortcomings in Southeast Asia, Mahathir said: “For democracies to work well, it will take time. I would say that you have to tolerate some of the wrong things done by people who are trying to be democratic.
“Among the developed democracies of the West, there seems to be no toleration. If you are not doing what they are doing, if you are not as liberal, then you are not democratic.
“But it is really difficult for a new country (to suddenly become democratic). We need to deal with the multiracial population, we need to have some control over even the media, because we don’t want the people to be agitating all the time to overthrow the government and sabotage the economy. I would say that you need a little time, and you need to be more tolerant.”
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