Dr Mahathir a great leader, says Chirac
PUTRAJAYA: French President Jacques Chirac has paid tribute to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad for being a leader whose words and actions are guided by his true feelings and wisdom.
“Sometimes he is very vocal when he says things but it is always based on a mixture of what he feels in his heart and what he feels in his mind. And this is precisely what makes him a great man,” he said after receiving the inaugural Kuala Lumpur World Peace Award from Dr Mahathir at the Prime Minister’s Office here.
“So it is very significant for me that I should receive this award from his hands,” said Chirac, who was here yesterday on a whirlwind visit to Malaysia.
The French leader is on his way to New Caledonia before proceeding to Tahiti to attend the South Pacific Nations Conference.
In his impromptu remarks, the president said he had known Dr Mahathir for many years and had learnt a lot from their talks, which usually centred on the issues of peace and respect for others.
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FOR PEACE: Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad presenting the inaugural Kuala Lumpur World Peace Award to French President Jacques Chirac after he paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his office in Putrajaya on Tuesday. The award was initiated by the Malaysian World Peace Foundation in recognition of Chirac's outstanding dedication to the peaceful resolution of international conflicts, courage in the defence of principles and commitment to co-operation among the nations of the world. - Reuterspic |
Prior to the presentation, both leaders held an hour-long discussion behind closed doors.
Touching on the current world scenario, Chirac, speaking through an interpreter, said what was needed now was a mechanism that could do away with unilateralism for it was important to bring about multilateralism.
“We can't accept any longer, given the changes in the world and the attitude of the people, the law of the jungle,” said Chirac, who was one of the strongest opponents to the United States-led war in Iraq.
He said the voice of each individual and nation should be heard for they had a contribution to make towards the betterment of the world.
The two leaders last met in Evian, France, when Dr Mahathir attended the Enlarged G8 Meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on Chirac, after which the president headed for a banquet hosted by Dr Mahathir at his official residence, Seri Perdana.
Chirac rounded up his brief visit to Malaysia by joining Dr Mahathir for a joint media conference before departing for the airport.
The French president made a private visit to Langkawi in 1997. – Bernama
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