[Word Of Mouth]

Business Asia, July, 2001

"The Malays are now disunited, have rejected unity because many have become greedy."

-- MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER MOHAMAD MAHATHIR AT A THREE-DAY MEETING OF THE UNITED MALAYS NASIONAL ORGANISATION, OR UMNO.

"We're not in a position to intervene in the matter because the decision is totally up to the Chinese Government. But we are ready to take them, once they are given refugee status."

-- AN OFFICIAL IN SEOUL'S FOREIGN MINISTRY, ON THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO PROVIDE ASYLUM TO SEVEN NORTH KOREANS HOLED UP AT THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY IN BEIJING.

"We intend to invest about the same amount in Asia as we have invested in Europe and the US."

-- YOSHINORI UDA, HEAD OF THE GLOBAL BUSINESS DIVISION AT NTT DOCOMO, ON THE COMPANY'S PLANS TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO BUY SHARES IN ASIAN CELLULAR OPERATORS.