Mahathir Mohamad: From humble beginnings to Malaysia’s political titan and father of modernisation
He is the country’s longest-serving prime minister
Born on Jul 10, 1925, in a poor neighbourhood in Alor Setar, Kedah, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a self-made leader who has remained influential even as he is just a few months away from his 100th birthday.
With a cumulative total of 23 years and nine months in office, he is Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.
During his second term, Dr Mahathir became the world’s oldest serving state leader at 92 years and 304 days, and notably, the first Malaysian prime minister not to represent the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
Here is a timeline of this political giant from 1946 to the present.
Timeline: Mahathir Mohamad (1946 - present)
1946: Joined the United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
1964: Elected MP for Kota Setar Selatan.
1969: Lost seat, expelled from Umno after attacking Tunku Abdul Rahman.
1970: Rejoined Umno.
1972: Elected to the Supreme Council.
1973: Appointed senator.
1974: Became minister of education.
1976: Became deputy prime minister under Hussein Onn.
1977: Appointed minister of trade and industry, focusing on industrialisation.
1981: Succeeded Hussein Onn as prime minister, Umno president, and assumed roles as minister of home affairs and defence, serving until 2003.
1982: Introduced Look East Policy, promoting Japanese work ethics and industrial practices for Malaysia’s economic and human capital development.
1983: Launched privatisation programme to reduce government involvement and founded Proton to industrialise Malaysia.
1985: Launched the first national car, Proton Saga, marking a milestone in Malaysia’s automotive industry.
1986: Introduced the Fifth Malaysia Plan, focusing on structural reforms, liberalisation, and private sector-driven growth.
1987: Operation Lalang saw over 100 mass arrests to suppress political dissent, consolidating Mahathir’s power. The episode rocked the nation.
1988: Dismissal of Lord President Salleh Abbas undermined judicial independence, with Mahathir accused of politicising the judiciary, weakening its checks on executive power.
1989: Banking and Financial Institutions Act replaced Banking Act 1973 and Finance Companies Act 1969, addressing oversight gaps. Key changes included Bank Negara overseeing all financial institutions and new licensing requirements.
1988 - 1996: Malaysia experienced significant economic growth, averaging 8 per cent GDP growth.
1989: Underwent heart bypass surgery, marking a pivotal health moment.
1991: Vision 2020 plan announced, aiming to transform Malaysia into a fully-developed, self-sufficient nation by 2020.
- Launched the National Development Policy to boost growth, but faced criticism over persistent racial inequalities.
1993: Pushed through constitutional amendments limiting the monarch’s immunity, reshaping the balance of power between the monarchy and the government.
- Malaysia-Australia relations soured under PM Paul Keating, who called Mahathir “recalcitrant” amid sharp disagreements over regional issues. Despite the tension, trade ties eventually resumed.
1996: Unveiled the Multimedia Super Corridor as part of Vision 2020, aiming to position Malaysia as a knowledge economy.
1997: Led Malaysia’s recovery from the Asian financial crisis by rejecting IMF help, imposing capital controls, and fixing the ringgit.
1998: Opened Kuala Lumpur International Airport, cornerstone of the Multimedia Super Corridor.
1998: Dismissed deputy Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of sodomy and corruption – shocking the nation and sparking one of Malaysia’s greatest political scandals.
1999: Inaugurated the Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest building.
1999-2002: Criticised Singapore’s economic model; relations between the two countries became strained.
2002: Visibly emotional, Mahathir announced his resignation after 22 years, saying: “I’ve decided a long time ago,” but retracted the decision after pleas from party leaders and delegates.
2003: Officially stepped down after 22 years, becoming Asia’s longest-serving elected leader; succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
2007: Underwent heart bypass surgery after two heart attacks within 10 months.
2008: The Malaysian government launched an investigation into corruption during the 1980s and 1990s, stirring controversy and debate over the accountability of his administration.
2008-2016: Gradually withdrew from key roles, resigning from Umno, stepping down as Petronas adviser in 2013 due to health issues, and leaving Proton Holdings in 2016 after more than two years as chairman.
2018: Big comeback - at 92, Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan coalition to victory and became Malaysia’s 7th Prime Minister, vowing to tackle corruption and reform governance. - Opposed China’s involvement in Johor’s Forest City project, citing concerns over the large number of Chinese nationals buying property and the potential demographic shift. - Halted the High-Speed Rail (HSR) project between Malaysia and Singapore, calling it economically unfeasible, signalling a shift in relations with Singapore.
2019: Anything is possible in politics. Mahathir secured Anwar Ibrahim’s release from prison and pledged to step down after two years in favour of Anwar.
2020: Resigned in February, throwing the country into political chaos, then founded Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) in August, vowing to combat corruption.
2022: At 97, Mahathir suffered his first defeat in 53 years during the November general election, securing just 6.8 per cent of the vote – below the threshold needed to retain his deposit, marking a dramatic end to his long political career.
2023: Admitted to National Heart Institute for an infection.
2024: - April: Investigated over alleged corruption linked to his sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani. - Despite being 99, he reached 154 km/h at Sepang Circuit, showing off his driving skills. - Hospitalised multiple times in 2024, including for respiratory infection in October, causing him to miss a defamation hearing. - December: Denied betrayal over the Pedra Branca dispute, after a royal inquiry recommended criminal investigations into his decision to withdraw Malaysia’s claims.
2025:Remains active on social media, with 1.3 million followers on X and 3.8 million followers on Facebook. Beyond sharing personal moments with his family, he provides insights on diverse topics, including the Malaysia-Singapore water dispute, resource allocation inequality, and the Gaza ceasefire deal. Additionally, he is also frequently invited to deliver talks at public and academic events.
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