Two-time prime minister Dr M turns 100

10-07-2025

Published on: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Published on: Thu, Jul 10, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Dr Mahathir Mohamad held the post of prime minister twice, from 1981 to 2003 and again from May 2018 to February 2020. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad turned 100 years old today, reaching a century of life marked by decades of political influence. Mahathir, the youngest of nine siblings, was born on July 10, 1925 in Alor Setar, Kedah. He led the Barisan Nasional (BN) government from 1981 to 2003 and held the top post again from May 2018 to February 2020 under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, after helping to topple BN from power. He is known as Malaysia's 'Father of Modernisation' for the initiatives he carried out as fourth prime minister, including iconic infrastructure projects like the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, KLIA, and Putrajaya as the nation's administrative hub. Mahathir also oversaw the launch of Malaysia's first carmaker, Proton Holdings Bhd, and introduced the Look East Policy, promoting education and business ties with nations like Japan and South Korea. During his first tenure as prime minister, Mahathir presided over the rise of the Malaysian economy as an 'Asian Tiger', pushing industrialisation to drive the economy. He also promoted the extensive privatisation of the economic sector, including many government-owned companies like Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd. He was seen as key in navigating the Asian financial crisis, choosing bold measures like capital controls and pegging the ringgit to the US dollar instead of seeking help from the International Monetary Fund. Mahathir, now an adviser to the PAS-led state governments of Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis, remains a divisive figure in Malaysian politics. He has been openly critical of his former deputy, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as well as PH and Umno, a key component in the unity government. He and his wife, Dr Hasmah Ali, 98, have seven children: Marina, Mirzan, Melinda, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Maizura and Mazhar. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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[UPDATED] GRS leaders endorse decision to work with PH for Sabah election

New Straits Times

24 minutes ago

New Straits Times

[UPDATED] GRS leaders endorse decision to work with PH for Sabah election

KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah supreme council has endorsed the decision to work with Pakatan Harapan, said coalition secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. "The supreme council of GRS convened tonight and, among other matters, discussed preparations for the upcoming 17th State Election, which will be held in the near future. "The GRS supreme council has decided to continue its cooperation with PH. "We will be sitting at table with the PH leadership in the near future to determine the allocation of seats to be contested by each party," he told reporters after the two-hour meeting. Present to chair the meeting which began at 8.30pm was GRS chairman and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The other seven component party presidents were also present. Among them were Parti Bersatu Sabah acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam; Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee; Parti Cinta Sabah president Tan Sri Anifah Aman; and, United Sabah National Organisation president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin. Recently, when Hajiji announced the GRS-PH cooperation, it was reported that many GRS leaders were shocked by the statement. However, Hajiji denied those rumours and responded that the decision had been agreed among presidents. Masidi said the GRS-PH partnership has greatly contributed to stabilising politics in Sabah and has allowed the state government to focus on efforts to develop Sabah, including addressing issues related to basic infrastructure. "As part of its preparations for the election, GRS maintains its position that local parties should play leading roles in the cooperation to be agreed upon with PH. "The GRS supreme council did not discuss or touch on any cooperation with other parties in relation to the election."

GRS to maintain cooperation with PH for state polls

Daily Express

39 minutes ago

Daily Express

GRS to maintain cooperation with PH for state polls

Published on: Sunday, August 10, 2025 Published on: Sun, Aug 10, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will continue its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in preparation for the upcoming 17th State Election, said GRS secretary-general Datuk Masidi Manjun on Sunday. He said the alliance had helped maintain political stability in Sabah, allowing the state government to focus on development and improving basic infrastructure. Advertisement According to Masidi, GRS and PH leaders will meet soon to finalise the distribution of seats to be contested by their respective parties. He stressed that GRS maintains the position that local parties should take a leading role in the agreed cooperation. Masidi added that the GRS supreme council did not discuss or consider collaboration with any other parties for the state polls. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Abolishing student loans doable, Shafie Apdal insists

Free Malaysia Today

44 minutes ago

Free Malaysia Today

Abolishing student loans doable, Shafie Apdal insists

Warisan president Shafie Apdal said his pledge is not a political gimmick. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Warisan president Shafie Apdal has defended his promise to write off outstanding student loans for Sabahans if his party forms the government after the upcoming state election. The former Sabah chief minister said his pledge was not a political gimmick and that it was financially doable, Malaysiakini reported. 'In 2019, I paid RM1 billion of debts left by BN,' he was quoted as saying, referring to the time the state government he led settled the federal government's bond ahead of its maturity date. 'If I can pay BN's debts, why can't we pay the debts of our students?' Shafie said the pledge could be realised by channelling revenue from timber concessions into Yayasan Sabah for education. He claimed to know which timber concessions can be set aside so the money goes to Yayasan Sabah. 'Then Yayasan Sabah can use it to pay off our children's debts,' he said. On Tuesday, a youth NGO dismissed Warisan's pledge as mere rhetoric. The Sabah Youth Council said even if Warisan kept its promise, the financial implications would be huge, and would impact other sectors in terms of funding. Its president, Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan, said it would be more practical for Warisan to subsidise the loans by 50%, especially for the needy.