Resist temptation, Dr M tells staff
PUTRAJAYA: The holy month of Ramadan trains Muslims to resist temptation and to stay away from misdeeds, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said fasting was not merely about abstaining from consuming food.
“The fasting month teaches us how to control our urges and temptation, which could lead us to commit bad deeds.
“Not being able to resist temptations means you are weak, and weak people cannot succeed in life.
“Only those who are strong and can resist temptation will succeed,” he said in his monthly address to the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department here.
Dr Mahathir said a nation where its people were not inclined to give in to the temptation of engaging in wrongdoings would be respected by the rest of the world.
“If the world knows us as people who can resist temptations, they will respect us.
“Malaysians will be known as trustworthy people and with that trust that people have in us, we will reap the benefits,” he said.
At the age of 94, Dr Mahathir said he was grateful that he could still observe the holy month.
“Fasting is training to reject temptations, and it is not limited to Ramadan. It is lifelong training,” he said.
At a separate press interview, Dr Mahathir explained that fasting is not a problem for him.
“I am a small eater. Even when I don’t eat, I don’t feel it (hungry).”
“So fasting is a not a problem for me,” Dr Mahathir said when asked how he found the first day of Ramadan.