Not used to reading articles reporting the prime minister's exact words in malaysiakini, I had to pause for a while to think whether or not the report, [#1]Holding on too long can breed corruption: PM[/#] (March 20), was a satirical piece.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad's recent comments are really illogical, hypocritical, or more often than not, out of touch with reality. His suggestion that those retrenched from their jobs due to the US economic slowdown can easily find jobs because the many Indonesian labourers here prove that jobs are aplenty, is bound to be viewed negatively by those who have lost their jobs in the manufacturing sector. A technician's work or some other skilled work in a factory does not equate to labour-intensive jobs, washing dishes, or laying bricks.

He also recently said that there are not many poor people in Malaysia anyway. One starts to wonder if Mahathir can really understand what the situation is like for the citizens he is supposed to represent.