Word of mouth - Update - Brief Article

Business Asia, July, 2002

"It's dangerous to assume that all of this salary hike will be spent. The main negative factor for consumption is that consumers are worried about losing their jobs."

Robert Subbaraman, regional economist al Lehman Brothers Inc in Tokyo, on the Chinese Government's bid to boost consumer demand by giving its 40 million public workers their second pay rise in two years.

"Well, we'll have to think about it ... Once you become Asian, we will think about that."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's answer to an Australian journalist's question about whether Australia could get into the Association of South East Asian Nations once Mahathir leaves power late next year. Mahathir has long opposed attempts by Australia and New Zealand to join the regional grouping, saying their interests are more closely aligned with the West.