“Daim bukan sekadar memulihkan ekonomi Negara, malahan mencatatkan rekod pertumbuhan ekonomi antara yang tertinggi di Asia. Dari pertumbuhan ekonomi yang negatif 1.1 peratus pada tahun 1984, Daim merubahnya kepada 8.9 peratus pada tahun 1989.”

Buku ini menyingkap kehidupan Tun Daim dari kacamata keluarga dan rakan terdekat. Melayari perjalanan beliau dari bidang undang-undang ke arena perniagaan hinggalah ke dunia politik di mana beliau dilantik menjadi Menteri Kewangan Malaysia dari 1984-1991.

Daim not only revived the nation's economy, but also achieved one of the highest economic growth rates in Asia. From a growth of -1.1 percent in 1984, he turned it around to 8.9 percent by 1989.

This book delves into Tun Daim’s life through the eyes of his family and closest friends, tracing his journey from the field of law to the world of business, and eventually into politics, where he was appointed Malaysia’s Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991.

“In western democracy, political daggers are drawn to banish players deemed to have messed up the arguments. Iraq, meanwhile, is a horrible mess. Iraqis are waiting not for democracy to flourish, but simply to get on with their lives”.

Daim Zainuddin was regarded as one of Asia’s cleverest politicians and policymakers, as well as one of its most influential.

Twice, rescuing the Malaysian economy from near collapse, he was also instrumental in restructuring the Malaysian economy - in particular in breaking the link between race and wealth. However, he has received insufficient recognition for his efforts - perhaps because he is very wealthy himself, causing him to be the target of innuendo and envy. He was self-made and wealthy before he went into politics - the opposite of what too often is the case in Asia. Through numerous interviews with Daim himself and the people around him, Michael Backman reveals the truth behind one of Asia's most able, private and contentious politicians.

Daim Speaks His Mind offers a rare insight into the thinking of Malaysia’s sixth and most influential Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin. Credited with reviving Malaysia’s recession-hit economy, which had registered negative growth in the mid1980s, he set the nation on a sound footing for sustained expansion. Recognised at home and abroad as the man who proved the prophets of doom wrong, Daim remains a force to be reckoned with. This book brings together his most significant speeches. A man of few words, Daim speaks with succinct candour and wry humour, making for truly riveting reading.

Buku ini memberi gambaran terus terang tentang seorang tokoh yang telah lama membingungkan penganalisis politik dan ekonomi di dalam dan di luar negara. Tun Daim Zainuddin, Menteri Kewangan Malaysia (1984-1991), seorang usahawan yang berjaya sebelum menyertai Kabinet telah membuktikan keupayaannya memulihkan ekonomi yang dilanda kemelesetan dan membimbingnya ke tahap yang lebih tinggi. Keupayaan beliau merupakan suatu enigma yang masih belum tersingkap dan masih menjadi sebutan ramai.

This book offers a candid portrayal of a figure who has long puzzled political and economic analysts both within and outside the country. Tun Daim Zainuddin, Malaysia’s Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991, was a successful entrepreneur before joining the Cabinet. He demonstrated his ability to revive an economy in crisis and steer it toward sustained growth. His capabilities remain an unsolved enigma and continue to be widely discussed.

This is a candid portrait of a man who has long perplexed political and economic analysts at home and abroad. Tun Daim Zainuddin, Malaysia’s Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991 and a successful entrepreneur before he joined the Government, defied the prophets of doom by reviving a recession-hit economy and setting it on the path to new heights. Speculation has abounded regarding the breadth of his political influence, his unseen role in pivotal events, and his connections with key players in the corridors of power.

Tun Daim's address to business students at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) where he advised students on basic managerial skills and values to achieve business and personal success. He further explored the technicalities and practicalities of starting a business as well as the organisational skills needed to excel and exceed one's own expectations.

This paper was delivered at the Official Opening of the ASEAN Roundtable on an Agenda for ASEAN in the 1990s, organized by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies on 29 March 1990.