Mahathir Mohamad

Malaysian politician and physician, seventh prime minister (2018–2020).

kremlin.ru · via Wikipedia: Mahathir Mohamad · CC BY 4.0

He was born on 10 July 1925 in Alor Setar, Kedah, and was the first prime minister not born into the aristocracy.^[1][2] Born on 10 July 1925, Mahathir bin Mohamad is a politician, physician, and author who held the positions of fourth prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and seventh prime minister from 2018 to 2020.^[2]

Last updated 2026-09-28 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Order: 4th & 7th
Office: Prime Minister of Malaysia
Monarch: Muhammad V; Abdullah
Deputy: Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Took office: 10 May 2018
Left office: 1 March 2020; Interim: 24 February – 1 March 2020
Predecessor: Najib Razak
Successor: Muhyiddin Yassin

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

He began his education at Seberang Perak Malay Boys School in 1930 and was a hard-working student who showed little interest in sports.^[3][4] After graduating from the University of Malaya in 1953, he began his housemanship at Penang General Hospital.^[5] He served as President of the Kedah Tuberculosis Association and helped found the Malay Chamber of Commerce.^[6][7] He lost his seat in the 1969 election and was later expelled from UMNO after sending an open dissenting letter to the prime minister.^[8][9]

He rejoined UMNO in 1972 and was appointed Minister for Education in 1974.^[10][11] During his school years, Mahathir played rugby because he enjoyed the sport and wanted to counteract laziness and physical weakness.^[4] In 1964, Mahathir won a parliamentary seat and strongly criticized Singapore's People's Action Party, labeling it "pro-Chinese" and "anti-Malay".^[9][8] Mahathir authored his initial book, The Malay Dilemma, which was prohibited in Malaysia until 1981.^[12]

On 16 July 1981, Mahathir took the oath as prime minister, becoming the first person without aristocratic background to assume that role.^[13]

What the cited sources add

A 2023 article notes that Mahathir was born on 20 December 1925 at No. 18, Lorong Kilang Ais in a wooden home owned by his father.^[14] The same source states that young Mahathir was 'very quiet' and 'never liked to put up his hands to answer questions'.^[14] Mahathir revealed in a 2019 interview that he was bullied as a young boy by a neighbor named Husin.^[15] According to a 2013 news report, Mahathir criticized Article 153 of the Federal Constitution in Parliament in 1965, calling it an insult to the Malay people.^[16]

References

Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; Perlez, "New Malaysian Leader's Style Stirs Optimism", The New York Times, 2 November 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Mahathir Mohamad: Malaysia needs more competitive investment policies", Malaysia National News Agency (Bernama) – Arabic, 20 June 2022 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Alan Teh, "GO: Birthplace of Dr. M", New Straits Times, 30 August 2018 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The Spokesman: Mahathir Mohamad", Asiaweek, 30 November 2000; Alan Teh, "GO: Birthplace of Dr. M", New Straits Times, 30 August 2018; ; Landau, "Rugby helped me stay in shape, says Dr Mahathir", NST Online, 13 October 2018; ; "PM never forgets his roots", The Star, 24 March 1991 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Dr Mahathir is Langkawi and Langkawi is Dr Mahathir", The Malaysian Insight, 14 January 2018; "Dr Mahathir is Langkawi and Langkawi is Dr Mahathir", The Malaysian Insight, 14 January 2018; "Dr Mahathir is Langkawi and Langkawi is Dr Mahathir", The Malaysian Insight, 14 January 2018 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barry Wain, Malaysian Maverick (2009): p.14 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barry Wain, Malaysian Maverick (2009): p.15-16 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; "Ex-top cop Hanif wrong, Dr Mahathir had criticised Malay rights in 1965, say DAP duo", Yahoo News, 12 December 2013; "5 a.m GERAKAN WINS PENANG: SHOCK DEFEATS FOR SENU, MAHATHIR", The Straits Times, 11 May 1969; Tan & Vasil, p. 51; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Mahathir to make statement <at the right time'", The Straits Times, 22 November 1971; "Mahathir at turning point in his political career", New Nation, 25 June 1981; "Mahathir returns to the Umno after 3 '—years—", The Straits Times, 8 March 1972; "Dr. Mahathir sertai semula UMNO", Utusan Malaysia, 8 March 2021; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tan & Vasil, p. 51; "Mustapha, Mahathir in Razak's new Cabinet", The Straits Times, 6 September 1974; "Dr Mahathir is Malaysia's education minister, Cabinet to be sworn in on May 21", TODAY, 17 May 2018; Hassan, "M Is For Mahathir", The Rakyat Post, 27 February 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; "MALAY DILEMMA MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD", The Straits Times, 5 August 1981; Tan & Vasil, p. 51; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "Mahathir Mohamad" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Malaysia's fourth Premier sworn in", The Straits Times, 17 July 1981; "Dr Mahathir — a true giant of history", The Malaysian Reserve, 10 May 2018 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
"We Visited Mahathir's Birthplace in Kedah & Found Out Lesser-Known Facts about the Former PM", Gempak, 11 January 2023. facts only, no text reused. gempak.com
"Dr M: I was bullied in school", Malaysiakini, 15 October 2019. facts only, no text reused. malaysiakini.com
"Ex-top cop Hanif wrong, Dr Mahathir had criticised Malay rights in 1965, say DAP duo", Yahoo News, 12 December 2013. facts only, no text reused. sg.news.yahoo.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Mahathir Mohamad (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.