Screenshots

AAB has been on the field for 10 minutes only so should not be criticised too harshly.

He has been on what ... 3 years?

So for a football match to last 90 minutes, AAB expects to have another 24 years (5 terms) to make his mark?

Scary.

I rather think it is now middle of the second half. His planning horizon should be the next UMNO elections.

The soft side of PM Abdullah. He said he wants to lead the country like his marriage to his late wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, filled with love, sincerity and fairness.
"This is my principle which I will hold dearly,"
The Full Text (30 Q & A) Interview & report of Mahathir’s address to PETRONAS student’s at TRONOH
is available at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/08/exclusive-tv3-interview-pm-abdullah_08.html

This bit from Wikipedia describes Machiavellianism:

Machiavellianism is the term some social and personality psychologists use to describe a person's tendency to deceive and manipulate others for gain. Whether the gain is personal or not is of no relevance, only that any actions taken are only important insofar as they affect the results. Used to describe later works by other authors based on Machiavelli's writings — particularly The Prince — in which the authors stress the view that "The ends justify the means."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli

The ends justifies the means - That description fits not only Dr M and Thaksin, but also Lee Kuan Yew I think. A man of indisputable intelligence, but for the sake of S'pore, matters such as human rights have often suffered.

But was Lee right to act the way he did?

It is hard to be a leader, many times harder to lead a country to the level of economic success which S'pore has achieved. Lee may well say, "the ends justifes the menas", (indeed I think he may have actually said something to that effect already though my memory fails me somewhat in trying to recall exactly what and when).

And many S'poreans may well agree with him, given the tangible fruits they now enjoy. I think it is human nature to be find it much easier to be kind with leaders who bring such fruits, whatever the means.

What about the case of Thailand? What about our tanah air? Fruits certainly not as tangible. Costs seem much higher to me.

In any case, I am glad Pak Lah has made his "I do not hold to this philosophy" statement in a crystal clear manner.