It is okay for a leader to take u-turn if it would be wiser, says Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it is okay for a leader to backtrack from his initial promises because even angels make mistakes some times.

The veteran leader retorts to the critics amidst criticism over several ‘u-turns’ in his government’s policies lately.

He said sometimes people made mistakes and had to backtrack when they realise it would be wiser to do so.

The words of wisdom from the nonagenarian leader: “Sometimes, we go the wrong way, we turn around but only if necessary. We are not perfect people.”

Dr Mahathir was responding to reports, one of which is the suspension of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan instalment scheme that was supposed to take effect on Jan 1st.

It is an interesting coincidence, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in a same vein while talking to newsmen said that a leader who is unable to take a u-turn if necessary is not a leader.

In a meeting with the selected journalists, Prime Minister Khan said: “We used to make strategies for matches but if those plans failed to deliver then we would make new strategies.” He referred to Adolph Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte and said: “Hitler and Napoleon suffered huge defeats and caused losses as they did not take U-turns.”

“If you are walking and there is a wall in front of you, then you will have to find another way around it,” PM Imran said, adding that “a leader who does not know how to take U-turns is not successful”, said Imran Khan.