To be a great leader, one needs to have good strategies, be knowledgeable and able to predict the future, according to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

bukit gantang by election mahathir ceramah and luncheon 060409 04 Mahathir said a good leader should also be willing to be nice to all, including the "enemies".

"Listen to all views even if the person who gives his views is not nice to you or you don't like the person.

“Most importantly, don't listen to those who only say 'yes'," he said in his talk on 'Strategic Leadership For The Future' at the Higher Education Leadership Academy's (AKEPT) premier talk series in Putrajaya today.

Also present was Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

A good leader needs to consult others

Mahathir said knowledge was of course important for a leader, but it must be admitted that "there is no person gifted to know everything".

"So, no matter how good the leader is, he still has to consult others," he said.

Mahathir also said that good predictions would help a leader make good strategies.

“It's not too difficult to predict the future or you need some magic here," he added.

- Bernama