Queensland Team Scores Rare Interview with Malaysian Icon,

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

A team of researchers from Queensland has scored a rare interview opportunity with Malaysian Icon, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The team from Brisbane-based firm Paradigm Infinitum are currently working on the project “New Media and the Informed Citizen”, a comparative study of the influence of the Internet and new media on the political process in Australia and Malaysia. The project is funded by the Australia-Malaysia Institute, an arm of the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The opportunity to interview Tun Dr Mahathir was a major coup for the project team, given his incredible influence and leadership of Malaysia over decades, as well as his current interest in new media, contributing to public opinion through his blog “Chedet.” (www.chedet.cc) Tun Dr Mahathir was incredibly gracious and his comments insightful and sincere, adding a very interesting perspective to the project. Interestingly, he commented that he saw the interview as an opportunity to redress “the negative perception that Australians have of me.”

The team members, Kiong Chan, Shona Leppanen-Gibson, and Vicknaraj (Raj) Thanarajah were all struck by how sharp, succinct and perceptive his responses were. “He certainly has lost none of his trademark wit and charisma,” commented Shona Leppanen-Gibson.

“It was a real honour and privilege to meet Tun. As I grew up in Malaysia during Tun’s reign as Prime Minister, I must admit I was very nervous, but he was so hospitable and generous with his time and his responses, I was put at ease almost immediately,” said Raj Thanarajah.

“Interviewing Tun Dr Mahathir is indeed a rare opportunity. His contribution and legacy to Malaysian society is legendary and I am still amazed that we were granted this privilege,” said Kiong Chan.

As part of the project, the team will be hosting an international symposium in Brisbane on the 24 th July. With special guests from Malaysia including renowned international journalist R. Nadeswaran, and Steven Gan, founder and editor in chief of Malaysia’s premiere online news resources, Malaysiakini, the symposium will examine issues of freedom of speech, government policy, censorship, access of new media and the interplay between politics and new media.

An edited version of Tun Dr Mahathir’s interview will be available via the project website shortly as well as transcripts (www.paradigminfinitum.com/NMIC).

Picture from left: Vicknaraj Thanarajah, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Shona Leppanen-Gibson and Kiong Chan at the Perdana Foundation, Putrajaya, Malaysia