Back Mahathir Muhammad ACE Mahathir Mohamad Afrikaans Mahathir Mohamad ALS Mahathir Mohamad ANG مهاتير محمد Arabic مهاتير محمد ARZ Mahathir bin Mohamad AST Mahathir Mohamad Aymara Mahathir Məhəmməd Azerbaijani Мәхәтхир Мөхәмәт Bashkir
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Mahathir Mohamad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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محاضر محمد | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg) Mahathir in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th & 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 May 2018 – 24 February 2020 Interim: 24 February – 1 March 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarchs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Wan Azizah Wan Ismail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Najib Razak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Muhyiddin Yassin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 16 July 1981 – 31 October 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarchs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Hussein Onn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ministerial roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–1978 | Minister of Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1981 | Deputy Prime Minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978–1981 | Minister of Trade and Industry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1986 | Minister of Defence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1999 | Minister of Home Affairs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Minister of Finance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Minister of Finance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Acting Minister of Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Mahathir bin Mohamad 10 July 1925 Alor Setar, Kedah, Unfederated Malay States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Malaysian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party |
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| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 7, including Marina, Mokhzani and Mukhriz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Ismail Mohamed Ali (brother-in-law) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence(s) | No. 58, Mines Resort City, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Sultan Abdul Hamid College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | King Edward VII College of Medicine (MBBS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Awards | Full list | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | thechedet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prime Minister of Malaysia
Political parties UMNO (1964–2016)
Alliance Party (1964–1974) Related
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Mahathir bin Mohamad (Jawi: محاضر بن محمد;[1] IPA: [mahaðɪ(r) bɪn mohamad]; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author, and doctor who served as the fourth and seventh prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. With a cumulative tenure of 24 years, making him the longest-serving prime minister in Malaysian history. Before becoming premier, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and in other cabinet positions. He was a Member of Parliament for Langkawi from 2018 to 2022, Kubang Pasu from 1974 to 2004, and Kota Star Selatan from 1964 to 1969. His political career spanned more than 78 years, from joining protests opposing citizenship policies for non-Malays in the Malayan Union in the 1940s to forming the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition in 2022. He was granted the soubriquet "Father of Modernisation" ("Bapa Pemodenan") for his pivotal role in transforming the country's economy and infrastructure.[2] Mahathir played a pivotal role in leading the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan to victory in the 2018 general elections.[3] At the age of 99, he is currently the oldest living former Malaysian prime minister.[4]
Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir excelled in his studies and pursued a career in medicine, becoming a physician. His involvement in politics began when he joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia's leading political party advocating Malay interests. His dedication to the party led him to enter the parliament of Malaysia in the 1964 general election, where he served one term before losing his seat. His relationship with the then-Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, deteriorated, leading to his expulsion from UMNO. During his time outside the party, Mahathir published his book The Malay Dilemma in 1970, a work that explored the socio-political and economic challenges facing the Malay community and drew significant attention for its bold views. After Tunku's resignation, Mahathir rejoined UMNO and regained his seat in parliament. His political ascent continued as he was appointed Minister of Education from 1974 to 1978. He subsequently became Minister of Trade and Industry from 1978 to 1981, promoting industrialization to strengthen the national economy. In 1976, he advanced to the position of deputy prime minister, and in 1981, he was sworn in as prime minister, embarking on a historic tenure that would span 22 years and transform Malaysia's political and economic landscape.
During Mahathir's first tenure, Malaysia underwent modernisation and economic growth when his government initiated widespread industry privatisation and a series of bold infrastructure projects, such as the Petronas Towers, the Multimedia Super Corridor, the North-South Expressway, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Putrajaya, and the Penang Bridge.[5] Under his leadership, Malaysia transformed from being an agricultural country to a modern, industrial nation and emerged as one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. Between 1988 and 1996, Malaysia experienced an 8 percent economic growth rate, during which Mahathir introduced an economic plan, known as The Way Forward or Vision 2020, aiming for the country to achieve fully developed nation status by 2020. Mahathir was a dominating political figure, winning five consecutive general elections and fending off rivals for UMNO's leadership. He continued pro-bumiputera policies, promoted heavy industries such as PROTON, and oversaw Malaysia's relatively fast recovery from the 1997 Asian financial crisis through unconventional economic measures, including currency controls and the fixed exchange rate of the ringgit. His government initiated the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), transforming Langkawi into a global hub for maritime and aerospace industries. Critics argue that he centralized power by undermining judicial independence and supported a constitutional amendment to remove legal immunity for royalty. In 1987, he detained various activists and religious figures under Operation Lalang, and in 1998, had his deputy Anwar Ibrahim arrested. His record of authoritarianism and curtailment of civil liberties strained relationships with the West. As prime minister, he was an advocate of Asian values and development models, emphasizing self-reliance and regional cooperation. Internationally, Mahathir was particularly prominent across the Muslim world, using Malaysia's growing influence to foster greater unity and development among Islamic nations. His leadership and influence were further recognized on the global stage in 1997, when Asiaweek ranked him second on its list of the 50 most powerful individuals in Asia.[6][7]
In 2002, Mahathir announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister,[8][9] officially stepping down in 2003 after 22 years in office,[10] but remained politically influential and was critical of his successors.[11] He published several books, including his memoir A Doctor in the House,[12] and frequently participated in international forums. Mahathir also served as the Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) from 2004 to 2016.[13][14] He quit UMNO over the 1MDB corruption scandal in 2016,[15] joining BERSATU[16] and leading the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition to victory in the 2018 general election.[17] This made him the world's oldest serving prime minister at age 92.[18] Following this election victory, Time magazine listed him among the 100 Most Influential People in 2019.[19] During his second tenure, he pledged to investigate the 1MDB scandal,[20] combat corruption,[21] abolished the Goods and Services Tax,[22] and cut spending on large infrastructure projects. He also secured the pardon and release of Anwar Ibrahim,[23] introduced the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030,[24] and initiated electoral reforms,[25] such as lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.[26] Internationally, Mahathir launched Malaysia's Foreign Policy Framework in 2019.[27] Mahathir resigned in 2020 amidst a political crisis.[28] He left BERSATU in protest of its new coalition with UMNO, and established the Homeland Fighters Party[29] and coalition Gerakan Tanah Air.[30] Despite losing his parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election,[31] he remained active in politics[32] and shifted party affiliation several times.[33][34][35] Mahathir has a history of heart problems and has been hospitalised on several occasions in recent years.[36]
Mahathir's political views are shaped by his Malay nationalism and Islamic religious beliefs. Initially, he was aligned with third-worldism in the 1980s and later advocated for "Asian values" and globalization. He is revered in developing and Islamic nations for Malaysia's economic progress and support of liberal Muslim values. He has evolved from supporting "Ketuanan Melayu" to advocating a "Bangsa Malaysia" that assimilates non-Malays into Malay culture. He criticizes neoliberalism and Western influence, controversially suggesting that the US government was involved in the 9/11 attacks and a group of international elites aim to establish global hegemony. He has also been accused of antisemitism for his comments. On environmental issues, he criticizes the Global North countries for "eco-imperialism" and defends Malaysia's palm oil industry as sustainable, despite international scrutiny linking it to deforestation.
Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Mahathir Mohamad: Malaysia needs more competitive investment policies". Malaysia National News Agency (Bernama) – Arabic (in Arabic). 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Tun M, Father of Modern Malaysia". New Straits Times. 17 June 2018.
- ^ "Mahathir win will reverberate far beyond Malaysia". Nikkei Asia. 10 May 2018.
- ^ Goh, Amanda (10 December 2024). "Malaysia's 99-year-old former prime minister — who was re-elected at 92 — shares his simple longevity secret". Business Insider.
- ^ "You're unforgettable!". New Straits Times. 31 October 2003.
- ^ "Dr M ranked as second most powerful in Asia". New Straits Times. 23 May 1997.
- ^ "Dr M - second most powerful man in Asia". Business Times. 23 May 1997.
- ^ "Mahathir tells Malaysia he will go in 16 months". The Guardian. 26 June 2002. ISSN 0261-3077.
- ^ "Malaysian Premier to Quit in 2003". Los Angeles Times. 26 June 2002.
- ^ "Regional tributes to Dr M". New Straits Times. 1 November 2003.
- ^ "Mahathir vows war of words against Badawi". www.ft.com. 11 September 2006.
- ^ "Dr M story hits the shelves". New Straits Times. 9 March 2011.
- ^ "UTP invites Dr M to become chancellor". The Star. 26 March 2004.
- ^ "Pak Lah takes over from Dr M as UTP's chancellor". The Star. 7 November 2016.
- ^ Firdaws, Nawar (29 February 2016). "Mahathir quits Umno". Free Malaysia Today | FMT.
- ^ Chen, Blake (21 August 2016). "Mahathir: Many applying to be members of new party". Free Malaysia Today | FMT.
- ^ "Mahathir Mohamad sworn in as new leader of Malaysia". Al Jazeera. 10 May 2018.
- ^ "Malaysia's new prime minister is the world's oldest elected leader at 92". New York Post. 10 May 2018.
- ^ "Mahathir is one of Time's 100 most influential people of 2019". Free Malaysia Today. 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Malaysia's Mahathir hopes to get back lost 1MDB funds". BBC News. 10 May 2018.
- ^ Bernama (27 September 2018). "Dr M vows all-out fight against corruption". Free Malaysia Today | FMT.
- ^ "Malaysia's new government scraps 6% consumption tax". The Business Times. 16 May 2018.
- ^ "Malaysian's Mahathir says king is willing to pardon Anwar, paving way for him to become PM". CNBC. 11 May 2018.
- ^ "Dr M launches Shared Prosperity Vision, new roadmap to make Malaysia roar by 2030". www.malaymail.com. 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Electoral Reform: Impressive changes leading to a robust democracy". The Edge Malaysia. 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Malaysia to Add 50% More Voters as Mahathir Lowers Age Limit". Bloomberg.com. 16 July 2019.
- ^ debby (18 September 2019). "Dr M launches Foreign Policy Framework of the New Malaysia". Borneo Post Online.
- ^ "Malaysia's Mahathir resigns amid political turmoil". Nikkei Asia. 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Malaysia's Mahathir to lead new 'warrior' party". www.aa.com.tr. 12 August 2020.
- ^ "Mahathir announces new Malay alliance to go head-to-head with Umno". MalaysiaNow. 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Malaysia GE2022: Dr Mahathir suffers shock defeat in Langkawi, loses deposit after getting too few votes". TODAY. 20 November 2022.
- ^ "Dr Mahathir says will continue to be involved in politics as he believes his services still needed". Malay Mail. 28 March 2023.
- ^ "Malaysia's ex-PM Mahathir quits Pejuang party he founded, picks GTA as new political platform". The Straits Times. 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Mahathir, 13 other ex-Pejuang members join Putra". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 25 February 2023.
- ^ Kasinathan, Shathana (12 May 2023). "Dr Mahathir confirms he has left GTA, does not hold any position in the coalition". Malay Mail.
- ^ "Malaysia's former PM Mahathir discharged from hospital". Brecorder. 29 October 2024.