Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad: a 100-year mixed legacy
His entry into electoral politics was a turning point. In 1964, Mahathir contested his first parliamentary seat for Umno in Kedah. Unlike the United Malays National Organisation's urbane, first-generation leaders, Mahathir came from a rural background and articulated a more ethnically focused vision for Malaysia than was customary at the time.
Following a brief period in the political wilderness, the result of his clashes with Malaysia's founding prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Mahathir rejoined Umno in the wake of
the racial unrest of May 1969 . His rhetoric and outlook fit in with the country's conscious pivot towards addressing wealth disparities among its various ethnic groups.
First ascending to the premiership in 1981, Mahathir led Malaysia for an unprecedented 22 years. His stewardship of the economy was, at the macro level, laudable. He was committed to balanced budgets, maintained a relatively open economy, prioritised infrastructure investment and courted foreign direct investment. The result was an average annual growth rate of 6 to 7 per cent.
Tourists take pictures in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday with the Petronas Twin Towers in the background. Photo: AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia optimistic of cutting Trump's 25% tariff threat to under 20%
Malaysia is seeking to lower US tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump to less than 20 per cent and is optimistic of reaching a deal ahead of the August 1 deadline, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Zafrul Aziz. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will speak with Trump 'when we complete the negotiations,' Zafrul told Bloomberg . The US president has threatened a 25 per cent levy – separate from sectoral tariffs – unless the Southeast Asian nation reaches an agreement with his administration. 'The direction is to get to as low as possible,' Zafrul told reporters. 'I think we can get to a number which we feel is fair for both parties.' Malaysia isn't ready to close negotiations yet as it is still finalising details with the US, Zafrul said. The government is seeking to lower tariffs to about 20 per cent, but is reluctant to meet certain demands around electric vehicles and foreign ownership, Bloomberg reported this week, citing people familiar with the matter.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia says no ‘credible proof' of Jho Low living in China with fake passport
There is no 'credible proof' supporting a report that fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low , is in China or using an Australian passport, according to Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Advertisement He stated that the report about Low's location and the passport he allegedly used was not backed by credible evidence or facts. 'The home ministry, through the police, is cooperating closely and continuously with our foreign counterparts and international authorities to track down Low. 'So far, the report alleging where he is and the passport he is supposedly using is not supported by credible proof. It remains only a report by the portal,' he told reporters after visiting the National Scam Response Centre on Thursday. He was commenting on a report by investigative outlet Brazen, which claimed that Low is reportedly living in China using a forged Australian passport under a Greek alias. Advertisement The publication, co-founded by former Wall Street Journal reporters Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, claims Low is living in a luxury neighbourhood in Shanghai under the name 'Constantinos Achilles Veis' on a fraudulent passport. In response to the report, Australia's Foreign Affairs and Trade Department (FATD) issued a statement warning that passport fraud is a serious offence under Australian law.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Anwar faces hypocrisy claims as Malaysian civil servants warned off protest
Malaysia 's civil servants have been warned of possible disciplinary action if they join a protest on Saturday calling for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim 's resignation, as the opposition claims hundreds of thousands are being mobilised for the rally. The 'Turun Anwar' (Anwar Resign) demonstration is the first mass rally that directly challenges the prime minister, whose reform movement once popularised street protests in the country against his rivals. Organised by the Islamist party PAS and the opposition, the rally calls for Anwar's resignation over unfulfilled promises, alleging economic mismanagement and an authoritarian tilt, including his attempt to seek legal immunity from an accusation of sexual assault While the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and assembly, the Attorney General's Chamber warned Malaysia's civil servants that 'these rights are not absolute'. 'Accordingly, any public gathering is also subject to the requirement to comply with existing laws, including specific instructions issued by the authorities including instructions by the chief secretary to civil servants,' it said in a statement on Wednesday. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) shakes hands with Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar at the Digital Assets and AI Advisory Council Meeting on Wednesday. Facebook: Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar The warning follows a comment by the government's Chief Secretary Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar on Sunday, saying that the attendance of state employees went against the National Principles, a set of five ideals formulated as a response to the 1969 racial riots.
