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Mahathir Mohamad

Anwar’s 2 years in power: Malaysia’s economy booms but reforms sputter

While Anwar brought economic and political stability to the country, he has largely abandoned his core agenda to win back Malay support.

22 Nov 2024 - 12:51PMvideocam

Malaysia

Daim Zainuddin acquitted of graft charges by Malaysian court after his death

20 Nov 2024 - 1:25PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Recap | Michelle Yeoh opens up, Thai monkeys run riot: 5 latest Asia news stories

19 Nov 2024 - 5:39PM

Malaysia

Widow of Malaysia’s Daim insists on case against late ex-minister to go on

Naimah Khalid says Daim wanted ‘his day in court’ to clear his name in a case slammed by their family as ‘politically motivated’.

19 Nov 2024 - 4:11PM

Malaysia

Mahathir hits out at Chinese signboards in Kuala Lumpur’s shopping centres

Former prime minister laments the absence of the national language, Malay, from the display boards at shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur.

19 Nov 2024 - 3:56PM

Malaysia

Daim Zainuddin’s complex legacy and the twilight of Malaysia’s old guard

With the ex-minister’s death, questions arise about the enduring impact of cronyism and the possibility of a new political era in Malaysia.

18 Nov 2024 - 8:38AM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s former finance minister Daim Zainuddin dies at 86

The tycoon and key ally of ex-PM Mahathir Mohamad had spent his final years under scrutiny from anti-corruption investigators.

13 Nov 2024 - 4:25PM

Daim Zainuddin, then a Malaysian government adviser, arrives at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in 2018. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Malaysia’s Mahathir slams Europe as ‘hypocrites’ for backing Israel’s ‘genocide’

Malaysia’s former prime minister says Europe is complicit in the humanitarian crisis, calling their human rights claims hypocritical.

6 Nov 2024 - 2:31PMvideocam

Malaysia

Chinese flag dispute in Malaysia sparks nationalist backlash, escalating tensions

Chinese flags waved at a festival in Perak state prompted a nationalist counter rally and rekindled concerns over foreign influence.

28 Oct 2024 - 3:27PMvideocam

Singapore

Amid 38 Oxley Road debate, a look at how Asia preserves former leaders’ homes

Homes including those of ex-Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad have been transformed to commemorate their contributions over the years.

26 Oct 2024 - 11:54AM

A view of 38 Oxley Road, the residence of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia

Asian Angle | Inside PAS’ ‘brilliant move’ to consolidate political power in Malaysia

SG4 aims to pool resources from Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu to attract investment – though feasibility issues remain.

7 Oct 2024 - 9:17AMvideocam

Malaysia

Daim Zainuddin’s wife steps into spotlight amid Malaysia’s corruption probe

Naimah Khalid claims the ‘trumped-up [corruption] charges’ against her and her husband, Daim Zainuddin, were ‘instigated by Anwar Ibrahim’.

3 Oct 2024 - 3:16PM

Malaysia

‘Vendetta’: Daim Zainuddin’s wife files police report against Malaysia PM Anwar

Daim’s wife filed a police report against Anwar and said he is targeting her husband as part of a ‘conspiracy’ against his political rivals.

30 Sep 2024 - 4:35PMvideocam

Malaysia

Malaysian PM had no role in graft probe into rival Mahathir: senior Anwar aide

Malaysia denies PM Anwar ordered anti-graft probe into rival Mahathir, calling allegations a ‘malicious attempt’ to destabilise the government.

27 Sep 2024 - 8:00PM

Anwar Ibrahim (left) and Mahathir Mohamad during a campaign event in October 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE

Malaysia

Can Malaysia’s 4 northern states plug wealth gap with their new company?

Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu are aiming to tap the potential of rare earth deposits in particular under SG4 Group

4 Sep 2024 - 6:27PMvideocam

Aerial view of Kota Bharu, the state capital of Kelantan. Photo: Shutterstock

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar calls for end to ‘greed culture’ among officials

Malaysia’s PM reiterated his commitment to eradicating corruption, calling for a new leadership culture that prioritises national interests over personal gain.

30 Aug 2024 - 9:04PM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad in hospital for cough after London trip

It is the second time the 99-year-old former prime minister has been hospitalised this year.

18 Jul 2024 - 1:57PMvideocam

Malaysia

Reformati? Malaysian speaker’s ruling sparks renewed fears of political chaos

Analysts warn the decision to allow party defectors to keep their seats could lead to a return of the country’s past turmoil.

24 Jul 2024 - 4:27PMvideocam

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, standing at center, takes his oath at the parliament in Kuala Lumpur on December 19, 2022. Photo: Prime Minister’s office via AP

United States

Macroscope | US is stuck in a vicious cycle that could spell crises elsewhere

No state can withdraw from globalisation on its own terms, and the world cannot have one power in effect running monetary policy on behalf of everyone else.

8 Jun 2024 - 5:17PM

Malaysia

‘Dangerous game’: Malaysia’s PM Anwar meets with Hamas leaders in Qatar

Malaysia is “playing a dangerous game” as US attention over alleged illicit money flows is often a precursor to harsh measures if remediation is not quick and clear, analysts say.

14 May 2024 - 6:40PMvideocam

Malaysia

‘Scary’ polarisation is Malaysia’s greatest challenge, Anwar’s daughter warns

Nurul Izzah Anwar says social media is a key driver behind the societal shift, which has seen the conservative ‘green wave’ sway voters and split the country.

12 May 2024 - 6:10PM

Malaysia

Malaysia draws fire for hosting Israel’s weapons suppliers at defence expo

The decision to invite Lockheed Martin and BAE to a government-backed expo has raised questions about the consistency of PM Anwar Ibrahim’s criticism of the Gaza war with the actions of his government.

7 May 2024 - 3:11PM

Malaysia

Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir under investigation, anti-corruption agency says

Mahathir has denied that he abused power while in government and described the anti-corruption sweep as politically motivated.

25 Apr 2024 - 6:39PMvideocam

Malaysia

Party time? PKR’s hazy post-Anwar leadership succession clouds 25th birthday

Without a formidable and charismatic replacement, People’s Justice Party of Malaysia remains firmly wedded to its president’s political fortunes – leaving a political outfit that one insider described as ‘paralysed’.

21 Apr 2024 - 10:05AM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Mahathir challenges anti-corruption authorities to prove allegations

Mahathir, 98, questions why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has concluded he committed an offence when he is not formally being investigated.

16 Apr 2024 - 6:25PM

Malaysia

Anwar’s crackdown lacks support amid Malaysia’s revolving door of corruption

A Malaysian public that’s accustomed to politics shaping prosecutions largely sees PM Anwar Ibrahim following in the footsteps of his predecessors, while his allies walk free.

9 Apr 2024 - 6:00PM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s ‘Casio king’ charged as corruption probe nets another Mahathir ally

Robert Tan is accused of ‘cheating’ the finance ministry in 2019 into granting his firm a US$840 million contract to run the government’s fleet of vehicles.

4 Apr 2024 - 11:54AM

Malaysia

Mahathir ‘the primary suspect’ in Malaysia’s anti-corruption probe, sons say

Mahathir Mohamad’s two eldest sons have revealed for the first time in an interview that a months-long anti-corruption investigation is targeting their 98-year-old father.

26 Mar 2024 - 2:02PMvideocam

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Mahathir Mohamad

Mahathir Mohamad is the former prime minister of Malaysia. A trained doctor, he had two stints in power - the first from 1981 to 2003 when he led the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition and the second from 2018 to February 24, 2020, when he was backed by the Pakatan Harapan ruling coalition. Mahathir had joined forces with his on-again, off-again rival Anwar Ibrahim to pull off a surprise election victory in 2018 to oust disgraced former leader Najib Razak, who has been implicated in a multi-billion dollar scandal involving state investment firm 1MDB.

Born

10 Jul 1925

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia

last updated:

7 October, 2024