Mahathir Mohamad

Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir in 2018
Mahathir Mohamad
Born	10 7, 1925
Birthplace	Alor Setar, Kedah, British Malaya
Nationality	Malaysian
Occupation	Politician, physician, author
Known for	4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia; longest-serving Malaysian prime minister; modernisation of Malaysia's economy and infrastructure
Education	King Edward VII College of Medicine (MBBS)
Spouse(s)	Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
Awards	Title of "Father of Modernisation" (Bapa Pemodenan)

Mahathir bin Mohamad (born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, physician, and author who served as the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, holding office from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. With a cumulative tenure of 24 years, he is the country's longest-serving prime minister and one of the most consequential political figures in Southeast Asian history. Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir trained as a physician before entering politics through the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), eventually rising through a series of cabinet positions to become prime minister in 1981. During his first, 22-year stretch in office, he oversaw Malaysia's transformation from a largely agrarian economy into one of the region's most dynamic emerging industrial states, presiding over major infrastructure projects and an era of rapid economic growth. His legacy, however, remains deeply contested: he was also accused of authoritarian governance, including the mass detention of activists under Operation Lalang in 1987 and the controversial dismissal of his deputy Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. On 10 July 2025, Mahathir turned 100, becoming the first Malaysian prime minister to reach that age and the second-oldest living former state leader in the world.

Early Life

Mahathir bin Mohamad was born on 10 July 1925 in Alor Setar, the capital of the state of Kedah in what was then British Malaya. He was the youngest of nine children. His father, Mohamad Iskandar, was a schoolteacher of mixed Malay and Indian-Muslim (Kerala) descent, while his mother, Wan Tempawan Wan Hanafi, was Malay. Growing up in a modest household, Mahathir was exposed early to the value of education through his father's profession.

Mahathir's formative years coincided with the tumultuous period of British colonial rule and the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II. The occupation, which lasted from 1942 to 1945, disrupted daily life and education across the peninsula. Following the war and the end of Japanese occupation, the British proposed the Malayan Union in 1946, a constitutional arrangement that would have granted equal citizenship rights to non-Malays. The proposal provoked significant Malay opposition, and the young Mahathir became politically active by joining protests against the Malayan Union's citizenship policies. This early engagement with Malay nationalism would shape his political outlook for decades to come, particularly his commitment to the advancement of Bumiputera (indigenous Malay and other native) interests.

Despite the disruptions of war and political upheaval, Mahathir was a diligent student who excelled academically. His intellectual ability earned him a place at a prestigious medical college, setting the stage for a career in medicine before politics came to dominate his life.

Education

Mahathir pursued higher education at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore (later part of the University of Malaya), where he earned his degree in medicine (MBBS). After graduating, he practised as a physician, initially working as a government doctor before setting up his own private practice in Alor Setar. His medical career gave him direct exposure to the socioeconomic conditions of the Malay community, and it was during this period that he began to formulate views on the economic disparity between the Malay majority and the Chinese and Indian minority communities — ideas that would later crystallize in his influential and controversial 1970 book, The Malay Dilemma.

Career

Entry into Politics and Early Parliamentary Career

Mahathir joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant Malay political party, and entered national politics when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kota Setar Selatan in 1964. He served in Parliament until 1969, when he lost his seat in the general election held against the backdrop of severe communal tensions. In the aftermath of the May 13 racial riots that year, Mahathir wrote a sharply critical letter to Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, blaming him for the crisis and accusing him of failing to protect Malay interests. The fallout was swift: Mahathir was expelled from UMNO, and he found himself on the political margins.

During this period of exile from the party, Mahathir channeled his political energies into writing. In 1970, he published The Malay Dilemma, a book in which he argued that the Malay community was economically disadvantaged relative to the Chinese community and that affirmative action policies were necessary to correct the imbalance. The book was banned in Malaysia by the Tunku's government but circulated widely and became an influential text in Malaysian political discourse.

When Tunku Abdul Rahman resigned as prime minister and UMNO president, Mahathir was readmitted to the party. He re-entered Parliament through the Kubang Pasu constituency and rapidly ascended through the government ranks. He was appointed Minister of Education, serving from 1974 to 1978, and then Minister of Trade and Industry from 1978 to 1981. In 1976, he became Deputy Prime Minister under Hussein Onn.

First Tenure as Prime Minister (1981–2003)

Mahathir was sworn in as the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 July 1981, following Hussein Onn's retirement due to ill health. He would go on to serve for 22 consecutive years, winning five successive general elections and becoming the longest-serving leader in Malaysian history.

Economic Modernisation

Mahathir's premiership was defined by an ambitious programme of economic modernisation and industrialisation. He championed a Look East policy, encouraging Malaysia to emulate the rapid industrialisation models of Japan and South Korea rather than relying on Western economic templates. Under his leadership, the Malaysian government pursued industry-wide privatisation, turning state-owned enterprises into private companies and encouraging the growth of a Malay entrepreneurial class.

His government initiated a series of major infrastructure projects that physically transformed the country. These included the North–South Expressway, connecting the Thai border to Singapore; the development of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), anchored by the Petronas Twin Towers, which upon completion in 1998 were the tallest buildings in the world; the construction of a new administrative capital at Putrajaya; the Multimedia Super Corridor, designed to be a technology hub; and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. These projects were intended both to modernise Malaysia's infrastructure and to project an image of national ambition on the world stage.

Mahathir continued and expanded the pro-Bumiputera affirmative action policies embodied in the New Economic Policy, which provided preferential treatment to ethnic Malays and other indigenous groups in education, government contracts, and business ownership. His policies were credited with raising the Malay share of corporate equity and expanding the Malay middle class, though they also attracted criticism for fostering cronyism and distorting market competition.

1997 Asian Financial Crisis

One of the most consequential episodes of Mahathir's first tenure was his handling of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. When the crisis struck, causing the Malaysian ringgit to plummet and the stock market to collapse, Mahathir initially blamed foreign currency speculators — singling out financier George Soros — for the turmoil. In a decision that defied the prevailing orthodoxy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mahathir's government imposed capital controls in September 1998, pegging the ringgit to the US dollar and restricting the movement of capital out of the country. While controversial at the time and criticised by many Western economists, these measures were later credited with helping Malaysia recover relatively quickly from the crisis without the severe social costs experienced by countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, which followed IMF prescriptions.

Authoritarian Tendencies and Controversies

Mahathir's long tenure was also marked by episodes that drew criticism from human rights organisations and raised concerns about democratic governance. In October 1987, he ordered a mass crackdown known as Operation Lalang, under which over 100 people — including opposition politicians, civil society activists, academics, and journalists — were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA). His administration also revoked the publishing licences of several newspapers. The operation was described by critics as an effort to suppress dissent and consolidate power.

The following year, the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis further strained the country's democratic institutions. The crisis centred on a legal challenge within UMNO and led to the suspension and later removal of the Lord President (chief justice) of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas, along with two other Supreme Court judges. The episode raised significant concerns about judicial independence under Mahathir's rule and remained a controversial chapter in Malaysian legal history.

Mahathir also supported a constitutional amendment that stripped the Malaysian royalty of their immunity from criminal prosecution, a measure that was described in some quarters as a legal reform strengthening the rule of law but was also interpreted as a consolidation of executive power relative to the monarchy.

Dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim

In September 1998, Mahathir dismissed his deputy prime minister and heir apparent, Anwar Ibrahim, amid a public disagreement over economic policy during the financial crisis. Anwar was subsequently arrested, charged with corruption and sodomy, and convicted in proceedings that were condemned by international observers as politically motivated. Anwar's dismissal and imprisonment sparked the Reformasi movement, a broad-based pro-democracy movement that represented the most significant challenge to the ruling coalition in decades and reshaped the trajectory of Malaysian opposition politics.

International Role

On the international stage, Mahathir was a prominent advocate of Asian values and an outspoken critic of Western political and economic dominance. He played an active role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and in forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement. He championed South-South cooperation and alternative development models, and he was one of the most vocal critics of globalisation on terms set by Western financial institutions. His rhetoric, which at times included remarks condemned as antisemitic, drew controversy internationally.

Resignation in 2003

Mahathir announced his resignation as prime minister on 22 June 2002, effective October 2003. He handed power to his chosen successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on 31 October 2003, having served for more than two decades.

Post-Premiership (2003–2018)

In retirement, Mahathir remained an active and often controversial commentator on Malaysian politics. He became increasingly critical of his successors, first Abdullah Badawi and then, more pointedly, Najib Razak. His criticism of Najib centred on governance concerns and, from 2015, on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, a multi-billion-dollar corruption case involving the state investment fund.

Mahathir broke with UMNO and the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, a move that stunned the Malaysian political establishment given his decades of loyalty to the party he had led. He joined the opposition and appeared at the Bersih 4 rally in August 2015, a pro-democracy street protest demanding Najib's resignation. In March 2016, Mahathir signed a joint declaration with opposition leaders calling for the removal of Najib as prime minister.

In a development that few had predicted, Mahathir formed a political alliance with his former rival Anwar Ibrahim, who had been imprisoned under his own government two decades earlier. The pair joined forces under the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition, with Mahathir as its chairman and prime ministerial candidate, and Anwar acknowledged as the coalition's de facto leader.

Second Tenure as Prime Minister (2018–2020)

On 9 May 2018, Pakatan Harapan won a historic victory in the 14th Malaysian general election, defeating the Barisan Nasional coalition that had governed Malaysia since independence. The result marked the first change of federal government in the country's history. At the age of 92, Mahathir was sworn in as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, becoming the world's oldest head of government at the time.

The new government moved quickly to address the 1MDB scandal, reopening investigations into the fund and barring Najib Razak from leaving the country. In foreign affairs, Mahathir's second term saw engagement on a range of international issues. He expressed a willingness to reopen Malaysia's embassy in North Korea and praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's willingness to engage in diplomacy with the United States.

Mahathir's second tenure, however, was cut short by internal political manoeuvring. The question of when he would hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim, as had been agreed within the coalition, became a source of growing tension. In February 2020, a political realignment known as the "Sheraton Move" saw a faction of Pakatan Harapan break away. Mahathir resigned as prime minister on 24 February 2020, and Muhyiddin Yassin was subsequently appointed as his successor.

Later Political Activity

After his second resignation, Mahathir continued to remain active in Malaysian politics. In 2022, he formed the Gerakan Tanah Air (Homeland Movement) coalition and contested the 15th general election, though the coalition failed to win any parliamentary seats. His political career has thus spanned more than 75 years, from the anti-Malayan Union protests of the 1940s through to the 2020s.

Personal Life

Mahathir married Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a fellow medical doctor, in 1956. The couple have seven children together. Siti Hasmah has been a prominent figure in her own right, active in social causes and public health initiatives throughout her husband's career. The family has at times attracted scrutiny over business connections; a 2005 report in The Age examined the business interests of Mahathir's sons, noting their prominent roles in Malaysian corporations during and after his time as prime minister.

In his later years, Mahathir experienced several health episodes. In January 2018, he underwent a procedure at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. In early 2025, he was admitted to hospital to treat a fractured right hip sustained after a fall at his home. His office confirmed he was conscious and receiving treatment. In July 2025, he was again hospitalised for fatigue but was discharged shortly after.

On 10 July 2025, Mahathir turned 100, describing the milestone as "quite frightening." He became the first Malaysian prime minister to reach that age. In an interview with Time magazine in May 2025, the then-99-year-old offered candid assessments of global leaders, including comments on U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Recognition

During his premiership, Mahathir was conferred the title "Father of Modernisation" (Malay: Bapa Pemodenan) in recognition of his role in transforming Malaysia's economy and infrastructure. He carries the honorific "Tun," the highest federal title in Malaysia. His contributions to Malaysia's physical and economic transformation — including the Petronas Twin Towers, the North–South Expressway, and the development of Putrajaya — remain visible markers of his era.

Internationally, Mahathir was recognised as a prominent voice of the developing world and a leading figure within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He played a role in organising the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal, which examined allegations of war crimes in Iraq and Palestine.

Media assessments of his legacy have reflected the complexity of his career. The Diplomat described him as "a political titan who casts a long shadow over Malaysia's modern history." The New York Times, in a 2025 interview, noted that while he transformed Malaysia's economy during his first tenure, he was also accused of authoritarian governance. The Economist characterised his post-retirement political reinvention as a remarkable act of self-transformation, noting his shift from ruling party patriarch to opposition leader.

Legacy

Mahathir Mohamad's legacy in Malaysia and the broader region is a subject of extensive debate. Supporters credit him with transforming Malaysia from a commodity-dependent economy into a diversified, middle-income industrial nation. Under his leadership, Malaysia's GDP per capita rose substantially, urban infrastructure was modernised, and the country established itself as a significant player in electronics manufacturing and export-oriented industries. The physical landmarks of his era — the Petronas Twin Towers, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the Multimedia Super Corridor — remain prominent symbols of national development.

His handling of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, particularly his decision to impose capital controls rather than accept IMF-mandated austerity, became a case study in heterodox economic policymaking and was later cited by some economists as a viable alternative to the Washington Consensus approach.

Critics, however, point to the costs of his long rule. Operation Lalang, the 1988 constitutional crisis, and the prosecution of Anwar Ibrahim are cited as evidence of authoritarian tendencies that weakened Malaysia's democratic institutions, judiciary, and civil liberties during his tenure. The affirmative action policies he championed, while raising Malay economic participation, also attracted criticism for entrenching race-based politics and fostering patronage networks. The business connections of his family members further fuelled allegations of cronyism.

His return to power in 2018, in alliance with the very political figures he had once marginalised, underscored both his extraordinary political resilience and the deeply personal nature of Malaysian politics. The failure of his second tenure to achieve a smooth power transition — ending instead in the political upheaval of the Sheraton Move — added another complicated chapter to his record.

At 100, Mahathir remains engaged in public commentary, continuing to offer assessments of Malaysian and global affairs. His political career, spanning more than seven decades, makes him one of the longest-active political figures in the modern world, and his influence on Malaysia's development trajectory — for better or worse — is a matter of enduring significance.