The Jakarta Post , in its editorial on Oct 31, 2003 made the following remark:

"We would like to suggest that Mahathir Mohamad devote this new phase in his life to setting up a Mahathir Mohamad Centre, located in a beautiful part of Malaysia and banking on his prestige as a successful leader and statesman. There, he could invite some of the brightest and most prominent young Islamic personalities, as well as leaders of other religions from inside the Southeast Asian region, to hold discussions in an atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood.

"The purpose would be to mould a sense of common purpose in facing a precarious future. Whether Southeast Asia can make progress in the face of the onslaught of intense globalisation depends on whether the nations of this region, with their diversity of religions, can work together and establish an environment of harmony and stability."

This suggestion, coming from a non-Malaysian media, is worthy of contemplation by all Malaysians.

What better way to honour a prime minister who had been at the helm for more than two decades, and who almost single-handedly transformed Malaysia into a competitive and respected sovereign state on the global stage?

Controversial he may be, but he loomed large in the politics of the region and among the developing countries.