Book on Dr M is mine, says Plate

PUTRAJAYA: “Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad” is solely my book, says the author, Tom Plate, asserting the originality of his latest piece.

“This is not his (Dr Mahathir’s) book. This is a book by Tom Plate,” said Plate at the launch of the book under the “Giants of Asia” series.

It was launched here at the Perdana Leadership Foundation by Chris Newson, general manager and publisher of Marshall Cavendish International, and Plate himself.

“I write the book that I want to write. This is not the book that he (Mahathir) wants to write. It is an appreciation but a critical appreciation to me,” said Plate.

Plate said Mahathir strongly disagreed on several points in the book.

“But that is how it should be,” said Plate, the American journalist who had four conversations with Mahathir from 2009 to 2010 before completing the book.

Before it was published, Plate said he had told the former prime minister that he might not agree with everything in this book.

But Mahathir said to him, “I know that. It doesn’t bother me. I just want you to write what you think is honest.”

Plate said he had also offered to show the book to Mahathir before it was published, as he did with Lee Kuan Yew.

But again Mahathir said: “I don’t want to see the book. You interviewed me and you got my answers.”

“Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad” is the second volume in the “Giants of Asia” series after “Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew”.

Four charities in Malaysia will receive a total of RM200,000 from the sale of 20 autographed limited editions of “Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad”.

Priced at RM10,000 each, the limited editions are specially autographed by Plate and Mahathir.

The four charities are Montfort Boys Town, the Society of Severely Mentally Handicapped of Selangor and the Federal Territory, the Thalassemia Association of Malaysia and the Down Syndrome Association of Malaysia.

The 248-page book is priced at RM79.90.

- Bernama