[Word Of Mouth] - Violence in Malaysia - Brief Article

Business Asia, August, 2000

"There was no exchange of fire. We believe they (the criminals) fired on their own, just to shoot. Maybe they wanted to familiarise themselves with their arsenal."

-- MALAYSIAN POLICE CHIEF TAN SRI NORIAN MAI, DENYING THAT SECURITY FORCES AND THE ARMED MEN HAD ENGAGED IN A 90-MINUTE GUNBATTLE RECENTLY. LATER THAT DAY, A SOLDIER WAS CAPTURED ON FILM BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND.

"If the party wants me to lead it to another election ... I'd be happy to do so. After that, then one has to recognise that I'll then be in my 63rd or 64th year ... and nothing is forever."

-- AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD, SPECULATING ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM POLITICS.

Mori: "Who are you?" ... Clinton: "Hillary's husband" ... Mori: "Me too."

-- A BIZARRE EXCHANGE BETWEEN YOSHIRO MORI AND BILL CLINTON AT THE RECENT G8 TALKS. MORI, WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, MEANT TO ASK, "HOW ARE YOU?" ... AND FROM THERE IT WAS ALL DOWNHILL.