Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
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| Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Native name | محمد مهاتير بن محمد |
| Office | Prime Minister of Malaysia |
| Term start | 1981 |
| Term end | 2003 |
| Term start2 | 2018 |
| Term end2 | 2020 |
| Predecessor | Hussein Onn |
| Successor | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Predecessor2 | Najib Razak |
| Successor2 | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| Birth date | 10 July 1925 |
| Birth place | Alor Setar, Kedah, British Malaya |
| Party | United Malays National Organisation (until 2016); Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (2016–2020) |
| Spouse | Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali |
| Alma mater | King Edward VII College of Medicine |
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was a Malaysian physician and politician who served as the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia. He led Malaysia through rapid industrialization and infrastructure projects during his first long tenure and later returned to challenge the administration of Najib Razak, leading a historic electoral defeat and brief second administration. His career intersected with figures and institutions across ASEAN, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and major regional powers such as China and Japan.
Early life and education
Born in Alor Setar, Kedah Sultanate in 1925 during British Malaya, he was raised in a family with roots in Malay and Indian subcontinent heritage. Mahathir attended the Alor Setar English School and later studied medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, then part of Straits Settlements. His formation coincided with events including the Japanese occupation of Malaya and the postwar transition to the Malayan Union and later the Federation of Malaya.
Political career
Mahathir entered politics by joining the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), affiliating with leaders such as Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tunku Abdul Rahman's successor Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. He served in the Malaysian Parliament and held ministerial roles including Minister of Education under Hussein Onn before becoming Prime Minister in 1981. His political trajectory involved alliances and rivalries with figures like Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Ghafar Baba, and later opponents such as Lim Kit Siang and Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
First tenure as Prime Minister (1981–2003)
During his first premiership Mahathir launched the Look East Policy aligning with Japan and South Korea, promoted state-led industrialization through entities like Petronas, MARA, and Proton (automobile), and advanced projects including the North–South Expressway (Malaysia), Petronas Twin Towers, and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He confronted constitutional and institutional disputes exemplified by clashes with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, reforms affecting the Attorney General's Chambers (Malaysia), and high-profile episodes such as the removal and prosecution of Anwar Ibrahim after the 1998 Asian financial crisis pressure involving the International Monetary Fund. He presided over Barisan Nasional electoral dominance, navigated relations with United States administrations, engaged with Southeast Asian counterparts at ASEAN summits, and hosted dignitaries from China and Saudi Arabia.
Retirement, return to politics and second tenure (2018–2020)
After retiring in 2003 Mahathir remained influential, later founding or co-founding movements and parties including Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and aligning temporarily with opposition coalitions like Pakatan Harapan. In 2018 he led a coalition campaign that unseated Najib Razak and the long-ruling Barisan Nasional at the 14th Malaysian general election, returning as Prime Minister at an advanced age. His second administration prioritized investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal linked to Najib, engaged with regional leaders at APEC and ASEAN, and faced coalition tensions involving parties such as PKR, DAP, and BERSATU that culminated in the collapse of his government and the rise of Perikatan Nasional under Muhyiddin Yassin.
Political positions and policies
Mahathir advocated developmentalism through state-owned enterprises like Permodalan Nasional Berhad and Khazanah Nasional, emphasized industrial policy modeled on the Look East Policy, and promoted infrastructure megaprojects including the Multimedia Super Corridor. He took nationalist stances on issues involving Malay rights expressed via Bumiputera policies, critiqued Western financial institutions during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and pursued independent foreign policy moves such as opposing Iraq sanctions and engaging with China on economic partnerships. His positions brought him into dialogue and dispute with international bodies including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and foreign governments of United Kingdom and Australia.
Controversies and criticisms
Mahathir's career drew criticism over human rights and legal measures such as the use of the Internal Security Act 1960, amendments affecting the Malaysian judiciary, and actions during the Anwar Ibrahim trials. Critics from groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International contested detentions under preventive laws and press restrictions impacting outlets like The Malay Mail and The Star (Malaysia). Economic critics targeted cronyism allegations involving conglomerates such as DRB-HICOM and MNRB', while political opponents accused him of centralizing power within UMNO and later BERSATU. Internationally, remarks on topics involving Israel, South Africa, and religious minorities provoked responses from states and organizations including United Nations officials.
Personal life and legacy
Mahathir married Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and has seven children, maintaining an enduring public profile through writings including memoirs and speeches at institutions such as Harvard University, Oxford University, and regional forums like the Kuala Lumpur Summit. His legacy is contested: supporters credit rapid modernization, institutions like Petronas Twin Towers, and industrial champions like Proton; detractors cite authoritarian tendencies, communal policies, and legal controversies. His influence persists in Malaysian politics through figures like Najib Razak, Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin Yassin, and parties including UMNO and BERSATU.
Category:Prime Ministers of Malaysia Category:1925 births Category:Living people