00:00Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, turns 101 today.
00:06Born in Alorstar in 1925, Mahathir studied medicine in Singapore, graduating as a doctor in 1953.
00:14He married Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali in 1956. Together, they raised seven children.
00:21A year later, after serving as a government doctor, he opened Klinik Maha in Alorstar,
00:26the first Malay-owned private clinic in Kedah.
00:29Joining UMNO in 1946, Mahathir rose from MP to Cabinet Minister taking the education and trade
00:36and industry portfolios before being appointed Deputy Prime Minister and eventually rising to become
00:43Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister in 1981. During his 22 years in office, Mahathir oversaw Malaysia's move
00:51from agriculture to industry, introduced the Look East policy, launched Vision 2020,
00:57spearheaded the establishment of Proton and oversaw various mega-projects including the Petronas'
01:03Twin Towers, KLIA, the North-South Expressway and Putrajaya. He returned as Prime Minister in 2018
01:11after crossing over to lead Pakatan Harapan to a historic 2018 election victory over Barisan Nasional.
01:18But his second stint would end two years later following the infamous Sheraton move.
01:23He has remained a vocal member of the opposition ever since, but dropped out of Dewan Rakyat in 2022
01:30after losing his Langkawi seat, his first electoral loss in half a century. Recent health issues have not
01:38prevented him from commenting on national issues. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who went from political
01:44protégé to arch-enemy, was among many who extended birthday wishes today. FMT also wishes Dr. Mahathir
01:52Muhammad a very happy birthday. Romanda Wigapari, FMT.
01:57want
01:57are
01:57power
Comments