Word of mouth - Update - Brief Article

Business Asia, August, 2003

"To go against the rest of the world, conventional wisdom, to make a decision that may break the whole country, is a tough decision."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad reflects on managing the economy in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Crisis, when he introduced capital controls and pegged the ringgit against international advice.

"If what is being offered on agriculture does not meet up to our expectations in terms of what we are being asked to pay for it, we would walk away."

Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile comments on the country's stance on WTO global free trade talks.

"Those who criticise about human rights being breached must understand that all the bombing victims are more important than any human rights issue."

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono speaks after last month's bombing of the JW Marriott in Jakarta.