FaceTheMusic: Welcome to Face The Music. Tonight we interview PM, who has agreed to be our guest this evening. Welcome, PM.

PM: Thank you.

FTM: You have recently said that all of your attempts to change the Malays have failed. Do you think this is because the Malays are unchangeable, or perhaps it is because there is a weakness in your teaching?

PM: I have tried everything. Nothing works. I think it is because the Malays are incapable of change. In this respect I consider them a race of lazy, incompetent people.

FTM: You have said that in addition to prayer and crying, you yourself have set a good example for others to follow. What examples can you give from your own life that might give the Malays a clue to what you expect of them?

PM: Primarily, I expect them to better themselves financially. When you look at the situation objectively, it is the Chinese who own everything. In spite of all my effort, the Malays still own little or nothing.

FTM: You have a program to give the Malays 30 percentage of all privatisation projects. How has this worked in practice?

PM: The shares have been reserved for the Malays, or Bumiputras as we call them, but there have been problems in distribution. The shares are still closely held in a few hands, and the Malays have not gotten any share at all. In this sense the program must be regarded as a failure. There are positive aspects, however.

FTM: Can you tell us what these are?

PM: Not in any depth, because the details come under the Official Secrets Act. But generally speaking, the privatisation projects have opened up a large money flow that has been put to good use by the government in various ways.

FTM: Have you yourself set a good example in this regard? Are you a good Malay? Do you consider yourself a financial success?

PM: No, unfortunately I have managed to acquire very little, in spite of long years of dedicated government service.

FTM: Is your situation a modest one?

PM: Yes, I live very simply.

FTM: You have offered to make a public declaration of your assets, including those of your immediate family. Have you made this list public yet?

PM: No.

FTM: Why not?

PM: There is no point. If I have no assets to declare, what is the point of making a declaration?

FTM: For a man without any assets, you seem to manage very well.

PM: The government is generous in providing support for my public service.

FTM: What does this entail?

PM: Well, I do have the use of a jet airliner when I need to travel.

FTM: Do you travel often?

PM: I have been invited by many countries to share the Malaysian success story, and I have been able to do this to the best of my ability.

FTM: Do you enjoy your trips abroad?

PM: Immensely. Actually, I am a born traveler. I enjoy seeing new places, and meeting interesting people.

FTM: Did you travel more than the average Prime Minister?

PM: I really can't say. I have been too busy to take notice. Lately I have been traveling a lot.

FTM: On your trip to the South Pole, you took along a number of guests, including members of your family. Was this trip official state business, or just one of the perquisites of office?

PM: Most of those who accompany me are members of the official party, but of course, I take along my wife, who is a source of continuing advice and counsel. I pay her way out of concern for appearances.

FTM: You pay for all her meals, and other expenses?

PM: I don't want the opposition to make an issue of it, and since it amounts to very little, I pay for her portion of the expenses.

FTM: There are a large number of businessmen, Malaysian tycoons, who accompany you. What is the purpose of such a large entourage?

PM: The plane trips are often long, and the hours in flight are used for conferences and discussions regarding the various aspects of the national economic situation.

FTM: It is sometimes said that you reward your business friends with large government contracts. Is this a valid criticism?

PM: Certainly not. This is just another lie that is spread by the opposition. They are so, so eager to topple the government and replace me. They will say anything.

FTM: What else does the government provide?

PM: There are the personal bodyguards, of course. And the cars with drivers. Usually there is a police escort of five or six motorcycles to help get through the traffic.

FTM: Your critics charge you with abuse of public funds, both for your party and your family and friends. Are you bothered by these charges?

PM: No, I ignore them. They are just mites on the body politic.

FTM: There have been charges that you personally influence the appointment of business executives, and hold them hostage to your decisions. What is your response?

PM: Let them prove it. If there is any evidence, then I will look into it.

FTM: Are you the one who decides which cases are to be prosecuted and which not?

PM: No. That is the Attorney General's job.

FTM: Who appoints the Attorney General?

PM: The King.

FTM: Is he independent in his choice, or do you really make the selection for him?

PM: Well, I make a recommendation, but the final decision is his. He usually agrees that I have made the best choice.

FTM: But there are a number of cases that have attracted international attention for their failure to follow established rules of judicial procedure. The trial of your ex-deputy was one of them. Do you ever influence the decisions of these judges, and interfere in the course of justice?

PM: I have very little influence in those matters. The selection of judges and their promotion are not my concern. I leave those decisions to my assistants, who have excellent qualifications in those areas.

FTM: But the cases that are not prosecuted, do you take an interest in those?

PM: As I said, if there are matters that have not been handled correctly, when they are brought to my attention I will deal with them.

FTM: Do you live simply, in the Islamic tradition of humility and service to others?

PM: Yes, of course. I have a small personal house south of the capital, which I purchased with my own money, and I also use the official residence, which now has been moved to the new capital at Putrajaya.

FTM: You have said that Anwar Ibrahim, your last deputy, designed the new residence in Putrajaya. In spite of the extra bedrooms, are you able to find comfort there?

PM: Yes. The colour scheme and the furnishings, the carpets and chandeliers, the crystal and the trim, the elaborate doors and the expensive bath accessories, all were chosen by Anwar. He has a larger family than I, my children all being grown, and thus the house has more rooms than I need. Nevertheless, I have managed to make myself comfortable.

FTM: Your children are doing well?

PM: Oh, yes. Thankfully they have a head for business, and have managed to find a place for themselves.

FTM: Has your position been an asset to their success?

PM: Certainly mentioning the family name has not hurt. But basically they have made their billions on their own, and at a very young age, which is remarkable. I only hope they remember me in my old age. (smiles)

FTM: Do you think the people will remember you with fondness?

PM: I hope so, though I really don't care. I have failed in my major objective, which was to advance the condition of the Malays, and now I don't want to be Prime Minister anymore; I just want to rejoin the ranks of ordinary members.

FTM: Are you announcing your retirement?

PM: Although I am in good health, no one lives forever. I was reminded of this just a day or so ago, when I visited a sick friend in the hospital. Although he is a long time opponent, I am very sad to see him in such bad condition. None of us can expect to live longer than the allotted span of years.

FTM: Your sick friend, is he Malay?

PM: Yes, to the core.

FTM: Is he incompetent? Is he lazy?

PM: It isn't right to speak ill of anyone under these circumstances. You should be ashamed to ask such a question.

FTM: Is he the man who heads the Malay party that leads the opposition in Parliament?

PM: Yes.

FTM: Your party, it's a Malay party too, isn't it?

PM: Yes, it is the largest party in the country. I am proud to be head of it.

FTM: You have an Indian name. How did you happen to become head of a Malay party?

PM: I was deputy when the last PM resigned.

FTM: Were you opposed at that time?

PM: No. I am re-elected in my state constituency by large margins, and the party elevates me to its presidency. As party president, I lead the government in Parliament as Prime Minister.

FTM: Do you personally decide who stands as the party candidate in the elections?

PM: Yes. That keeps the pressure on them to perform along party lines. If they don't perform as they should, I see they are removed, one way or another.

FTM: Since you first became Prime Minister, have you faced an election for party president?

PM: Yes, in 1984 and 1987.

FTM: And you have always won?

PM: Yes.

FTM: Who was your opponent in 1984?

PM: I was unopposed.

FTM: And your opponent in 1987?

PM: Tengku Razali.

FTM: There were reports of irregularities during that party election. It is said that the lights went out during the counting of the votes. Do you recall that evening?

PM: Yes, I recall that.

FTM: Apparently, Tengku Razali was ahead when the lights went out, and when they came on again, you were ahead. Is there any truth to that?

PM: You are suggesting there was tapering with the ballots, and of course that is not correct.

FTM: I only ask because, according to the reports that we have seen, the power failure did not affect the surrounding area. Only the lights in the voting room went out, and the rest of the power that supplied the background music and other electrical appliances remained on. This suggests that a circuit breaker was pulled on purpose. Do you remember that?

PM: Well, that was a long time ago, and those stories have no basis in fact. Anyway, I won, and I have been party president ever since. As party president, I am automatically the PM. That is our system.

FTM: Did you win the last party election?

PM: Yes. I won by default, because there was no contest for the top two posts.

FTM: How did that happen? Do you consider that democratic?

PM: Most certainly I do. There was no contest because the party could not risk a split at that critical time. All the various factions of the party approved of it. It was almost unanimous.

FTM: You are holding several positions in the party, as well as in the government. Is it because there are no qualified people available?

PM: There are presently some vacancies, but I am only holding those offices until qualified people are willing to accept the responsibility. Just now, in the specific case of the Finance Ministry, no one wants to take the responsibility.

FTM: Is it true that the past Finance Minister did not turn over a complete set of records, either for the Finance Ministry or your NO-UMMAH party, of which he was also treasurer?

PM: It is true that some of the records are incomplete, and we are trying to remedy that. There is always a question when a man occupies two positions that are so closely connected. As you are probably aware, he has substantial personal assets, and those seem to have become commingled with the government and party accounts. So it takes time to get these accounts straightened out in a satisfactory manner.

FTM: One last question before the break; in your country you are known as "Bapa Penipu" [father of lies]. How does that translate?

PM: I haven't heard that one. People who are jealous call me lots of things. As long as I am good at what I do, I will continue to serve, though sometimes the people seem ungrateful and undeserving of me.