KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysians had lost their sense of shame, and would not even feel ashamed of kissing a criminal’s hand.

He said during the Q&A session after launching a new book on the Look East Policy that Malaysians should emulate the Japanese people’s work ethic, discipline and sense of shame.

“Malaysia has now lost the sense of shame. We are even willing to kiss the hand of a criminal. This will destroy this country’s development.”