Tun

politician

Dr.

Mahathir

who

Mohamad

served

as

prime

is

Malaysian

minister

of

Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and he was the

fourth Prime Minister. Tun Dr. Mahathir was born
on Friday 20 December 1925 in Alor Setar, Kedah.
Prince of Mohamad bin Iskandar and Wan Tempani bin
Wan Hanafi and he was the youngest among nine
siblings. Tun Dr. Mahathir started his education at
the Goverment English School which now known
as Sultan Abdul Hamid College. He also graduated
with excellent results of Senior Cambridge in 1945.
After graduating secondary school, Dr. Mahathir was
offered to continue his study to be a doctor. A
scholarship to study at King Edward VII College of
Medicine had been offered to Dr. Mahathir in 1947.
During his college life, he was a hard working and
diligent student, he was active in rugby and always
concerned about the welfare of other students. In 1953,
he was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MBBS) by the
University of Malaya. In 1954, he worked as Medical
Officer at Alor Setar General Hospital. He expressed
his

concern

about

Malayas

economic

and

political problems through his articles that was

published by Sunday Times under the pen name

CHE DET between 1946-1950. Dr. Mahathir loves

to write until today. Apart from writing, Dr. Mahathir
also loves to read and adhere to the principles of
TUGUH that learning is a lifetime process.
His participation in the political arena was not
significant in the 1950 because he still at the university.
However

he

continued

to

write

articles

and

commentary on issues of social-political in The Straits

Times. Resignation as a goverment doctor in 1957 has
enabled Dr. Mahathir to involve again in politics. He was
selected to compete at the state elections in 1959 but
he refused. In 1964 general election, Dr. Mahathir was
entrusted as a candidate and won the Kota Setar
parliamentary seat on Alliance ticket. After winning the
general election in 1964, Dr. Mahathir was appointed as
a member of Parliamentary but he lost his seat in the
next general election in 1969. Starting from here he
made name in the society and the political scene.
Tun Dr. Mahathir was called as Malaysian
Father of Modernisation and he was the longest
Prime Minister from July 16, 1981 to October 31,
2003.

During

administrative

the

22

positions,

years,
a

he
lot

held

high-level

progress

and

development he had done to the country. Although his

ideas and vision are poorly understood sometimes but

he was a visionary and ahead of the game. In 1997,
Tun. Dr. Mahathir was named as the 50 most
powerful people in Asia by the Asia Weeek
Magazines. He deserved the nomination because he
manage to help Malaysia to get through world economy
crisis while many countries in the world were struggling
to get through it.
During the 22 years of Prime Minister, Malaysia
was led to tap in excellence by Tun. Dr. Mahathir.
Malaysia has undergone various reforms physically,
mentally,
formidable

and
and

socially.

Malaysia

respected

country

has
to

become
the

world.

Malaysia also known as a success developing country

and a leading Islamic country. Inheritance left by Tun.
Dr. Mahahir can be seen everywhere.