16. Kofi Annan

Khazanah Global Lectures
on 12th, July 2007














Kofi Annan
Former Secretary-General of the UN
Nobel Peace Laureate 2001

Jeff, there is is so much that we can all learn from Kofi Annan's speech. I only hope our Government Leaders also take note and pay heed to the clarion call for injustices in our society.

Some pertinent quotes I thought worth mentioning.

" A society so clearly defined by race and religion, which he said "remains the case here in Malaysia."

" There are three freedoms which all human beings crave for - freedom from want; freedom from fear, conflict or large-scale violence; and freedom from discrimination, arbitrary or degrading treatment."

"It is only when governments are grounded in the rule of law -fairly and consistently applied - that society can rest on a solid foundation."

" Leaders must also hold themselves to the same rules, the same restrains, and never above them."

" Respect for national sovereignty can no longer be used as an excuse for inaction in the face of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity." Sri Lanka is in dire need of help in this respect.

The above are my comments to Jeff Ooi in his post today.

More read here.

Thank you to Khazanah Nasional Berhad for having invited me to the Lecture.