In 1997, Asiaweek published the following responses concerning 'power' from Malaysia's then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said: "I am not saying that I enjoyed power but I find that it is useful in carrying out the things you want to carry out. If you don't have power and you put out a very reasonable proposal, nobody will implement it. You have to have power."

When asked why some suggested that he is addicted to power and didn't want to let it go, he answered: " it's not the question of wanting to let it go. I sense I may be wrong of course, that people do not want me to go just yet. They keep on telling me that. Of course they may be sycophants. But the fact is that they say that what I am doing has made the country what it is today. Well, they say, I may be wrong, they may be wrong."

Power had brought him achievements over 16 years at the time.

Asked if this was a little too long, he said: "People will think it is too long. But one thing you can be sure of is that the certainty of your demise will undermine your ability to run the country. The problem with many countries is that their leaders are only allowed to do one term. People don't respect that one term because you are going to go out anyway."

Almost 10 years after the interview, he still thinks he is in power.