“s contributions towards industrialising Singapore. He said that he does not view Lee”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad is a Malaysian politician, physician and author who served as the fourth and seventh prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. He was the country's longest-serving prime minister, serving for a cumulative total of 24 years. His political career has spanned more than 75 years, from joining protests opposing citizenship policies for non-Malays in the Malayan Union in the 1940s to forming the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition in 2022. During his premiership, Mahathir was granted the title "Father of Modernisation" for his pivotal role in transforming the country's economy and infrastructure. At 101 years old, he is the second-oldest living former state leader in the world and the first Malaysian prime minister to reach that age.
science · Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981–2003, 2018–2020) · politician · physician · writer · autobiographer · head of government · adviser · chancellor · street vendor · also Mahathir Mohamad, Father of Modern Malaysia, Che Det, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chedet, YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Born 10 July 1925 · Q181383
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202611 items
“on the other hand, a lack of U.S. interest is also problematic. It creates the impression that Russia can act as it pleases.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
“s policies, particularly in foreign affairs, trade, and education, while also emphasizing Islam”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Carz Automedia Malaysia: "RM100M Feels Like RM50M Now": Tun M Urges Malaysia To Buy Back Formula 1 Hosting Rights
- #news
- #headline
Paul Tan's Automotive News: Malaysia should host Formula 1 again – Tun Mahathir
- #news
- #headline
NST Online: Tun M backs F1 return to Sepang
- #news
- #headline
Newswav: Tun M and Dr Hasmah set historic centenarian milestone as former leader couple
- #news
- #headline
Newswav: Tun Dr Mahathir, Siti Hasmah create ASEAN record
- #news
- #headline
Public attention spiked: 10,084 Wikipedia readers in one day, 9.1× the usual 1,108, with 6 article edits. Editors noted: Updated name pronunciation
- #attention
- #spike
- #pageviews
The New York Times: Mahathir Mohamad
- #news
- #headline
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Image shows Mahathir Mohamad undergoing physiotherapy in hospital” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
20223 items
The Guardian: Malaysia’s 97-year-old former PM Mahathir Mohamad seeks re-election in his seat
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Mahathir Mohamad: 97-year-old Malaysian former leader to run for parliament
- #news
- #headline
For implementing many conservative and regressive policies
- #wikipedia
- #event
20211 item
Awarded Asia's Most Influential Malaysia (2021).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
20205 items
The Guardian: Mahathir Mohamad says his remarks after French attack were taken out of context
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Mahathir Mohamad's 'abhorrent' comments on Nice terrorist attack condemned
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: Mahathir Mohamad questions legitimacy of Malaysia's new PM
- #news
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The Guardian: Malaysia PM Mahathir resigns but is asked to stay as interim leader
- #news
- #headline
- #transfer
Was accompanied by the NEP's replacement, the National Development Policy (NDP), under which some government programmes designed to benefit the bumiputera exclusively were opened up to other ethnicities
- #wikipedia
- #event
20196 items
Claimed: ““Even before they examine, they already said Russia. And now they said they have proof. It is very difficult for us to accept that.”” — rated FALSE by VOA.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-by-figure
Awarded Order of the Republic (2019).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan (2019).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
“baseless, unfair and unjustified”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Time magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 most influential people
- #wikipedia
- #event
“s citizens, which enabled their nation to achieve technological advancement within a few decades. In 2025, he said that China would overtake the United States and remain the world”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
20185 items
The Guardian: Australia's treasurer attacks Malaysian PM Mahathir for 'antisemitic' comments
- #news
- #headline
Awarded Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers (2018).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Malaysia (2018–2020).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
“I will always value my stay in Singapore for nearly six years.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Career landmark: Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs chairman (2018–2020).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
20161 item
Joining BERSATU and leading the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition to victory in the 2018 general election
- #wikipedia
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20151 item
Published “Review on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Activity and Toxicity Mechanism” in Nano-Micro Letters — cited 3,920 times.
- #crossref
- #research
- #work
20081 item
“s development, and that ASEAN had lost the strong leadership of both Lee and Suharto of Indonesia, who had died in 2008. Some analysts observed that with Lee”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
20071 item
When Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first Malaysian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft under an arrangement with Russia
- #wikipedia
- #event
20052 items
Awarded honorary doctor of Waseda University (2005).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights (2005).
- #wikidata
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- #achievement
20042 items
Awarded honorary doctor of the Tsinghua University (2004).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded doctor honoris causa of Keiō University (2004).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
20038 items
Awarded Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (2003).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (2003).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Order of Friendship (2003).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Royal Family Order of Kedah (2003).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement (2003–2003).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
After 22 years in office, but remained politically influential and was critical of his successors
- #wikipedia
- #event
Mahathir spoke to the Non-Aligned Movement in Kuala Lumpur, where he blamed Western nations and Israel for a global rise in terrorism
- #wikipedia
- #event
Believing that it is crucial for Malaysians to remain competitive in a fast-changing world
- #wikipedia
- #event
20022 items
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2002).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Announced that he would resign as prime minister, only for supporters to rush to the stage and convince him tearfully to remain
- #wikipedia
- #event
20011 item
Career landmark: Minister of Finance 2 (2001–2003).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
19985 items
Mahathir defied the IMF's recommendations and implemented bold measures to stabilize the economy
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The dismissal of deputy Anwar Ibrahim sparked the Reformasi and became a major point of political debate in Malaysia
- #wikipedia
- #event
Felt like "putting his head on the chopping block"
- #wikipedia
- #event
US vice-president Al Gore gave a speech expressing sympathy for the Reformasi movement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference hosted by Malaysia, infuriating Mahathir and other ministers
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Minister of Finance 2 (1998–1999).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
19977 items
Awarded Order of Mubarak the Great (1997).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam (1997).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (1997).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Family Order of Laila Utama (1997).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Order of José Martí (1997).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Mahathir officially named the Malaysian flag 'Jalur Gemilang' during the 40th Independence Day celebration
- #wikipedia
- #event
The Asian financial crisis threatened to devastate Malaysia's economy
- #wikipedia
- #event
19962 items
Awarded Commander of the Order of the Polar Star (1996).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (1996).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
19953 items
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (1995).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru (1995).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Mahathir visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and facilitated the establishment of a university modelled after MIT, leading to the founding of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST)
- #wikipedia
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19931 item
Stated that Malaysia had "no problem with China" regarding the Spratlys, and in 1994, he welcomed China's proposal for joint exploration, opposing further internationalisation of the dispute
- #wikipedia
- #event
19921 item
His childhood home in Alor Setar, named Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir Mohamad, was restored and opened to the public in 1992, showcasing personal memorabilia from his early life.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
19914 items
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (1991).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (1991).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class (1991).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Announced Vision 2020, under which Malaysia would aim to become a fully developed country within 30 years
- #wikipedia
- #event
19902 items
Awarded Order of the Liberator (1990).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Allowed Mahathir to outline his economic vision for Malaysia
- #wikipedia
- #event
19891 item
Awarded Royal Family Order of Johor (1989).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
19883 items
Awarded Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (1988).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Led a delegation of three cabinet ministers on a discreet visit to Taiwan, which drew criticism from Beijing
- #wikipedia
- #event
Contributing to the island's transformation into a major tourist destination
- #wikipedia
- #event
19875 items
Awarded Star of the Republic of Indonesia (1987).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Ordered the detention of numerous activists under Operation Lalang, and his administration was involved in the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis, which raised concerns about judicial independence
- #wikipedia
- #event
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had been demoted from Finance Minister to Trade and Industry Minister, challenged Mahathir for UMNO's presidency, and effectively the prime ministership
- #wikipedia
- #event
Was elected as the president of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
- #wikipedia
- #event
Mahathir established the Langkawi Development Board and declared the island a duty-free zone
- #wikipedia
- #event
19863 items
Australians Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers became the first Westerners executed under Malaysia's mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking, despite last-minute clemency appeals from Australia and the United Kingdom
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Minister of Home Affairs (1986–1999).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Winning 83 seats of the 84 seats it contested, leaving PAS with just one Member of Parliament (MP)
- #wikipedia
- #event
19851 item
Mahathir visited China for the first time as prime minister, where he met Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, establishing a new level of trust that laid the foundation for Malaysia-China relations and set the stage for decade
- #wikipedia
- #event
19844 items
Awarded Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (1984).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
During his first visit to the United States, Mahathir received a warm welcome
- #wikipedia
- #event
Mahathir was re-elected unopposed as UMNO president for a second term
- #wikipedia
- #event
1988, and 1997, with two of these visits involving transit diplomacy at Taoyuan Airport
- #wikipedia
- #event
19836 items
Awarded Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (1983).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Mahathir launched an Anti-Drug Campaign, enacted the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act, and established Pusat Serenti as a rehabilitation centre for drug dependents
- #wikipedia
- #event
To resolve the tensions and end the policy
- #wikipedia
- #event
Mahathir undertook one of the first challenges he had with Malaysia's royalty
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ardasier Reef and Mariveles Reef in 1986, and Investigator Shoal and Erica Reef in 1999
- #wikipedia
- #event
At Stadium Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, encouraging leaders and civil servants to uphold integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour in order to inspire public trust and ensure that national objectives were achieved th
- #wikipedia
- #event
19821 item
Awarded Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu (1982).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
19816 items
Awarded Order of the White Elephant (1981).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Order of Kinabalu (1981).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: Minister of Defence (1981–1986).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Malaysia (1981–2003).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Malaysian National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs chairman (1981–2003).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Facing health issues and advancing age, Hussein Onn decided to step down, paving the way for Mahathir to take over
- #wikipedia
- #event
19791 item
Awarded Order of the Crown of Johor (1979).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
19782 items
And announced plans to build a large rehabilitation centre on Pisang Island, Johor
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Minister of International Trade and Industry (1978–1981).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
19771 item
Awarded Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (1977).
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
19762 items
Career landmark: Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (1976–1981).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Before being sworn in as prime minister in 1981
- #wikipedia
- #event
19751 item
Mahathir ran for one of the three vice-presidencies of UMNO
- #wikipedia
- #event
19741 item
Career landmark: Minister of Education (1974–1977).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
19721 item
Career landmark: Member of the Dewan Negara (1972–1974).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
19711 item
Mahathir announced his plan to rejoin UMNO, stating he would make a formal statement at an appropriate time; that same year, he also met Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein during a visit to Morib
- #wikipedia
- #event
19681 item
Mahathir had expressed concern over escalating racial tensions in two newspaper articles, and feared preventative measures would be needed to avoid violence
- #wikipedia
- #event
19651 item
Mahathir stated in Parliament that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which grants special rights to Malays, was a source of shame for the community and would eventually be abolished
- #wikipedia
- #event
19642 items
As the Member of Parliament for Kota Setar Selatan, serving until he lost his seat in 1969, subsequently falling out with Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and being expelled from UMNO
- #wikipedia
- #event
And was elected as the federal parliamentarian for the Alor Setar-based seat of Kota Setar Selatan
- #wikipedia
- #event
19591 item
Was the chairman of the party in Kedah
- #wikipedia
- #event
19561 item
Mahathir met his wife, Siti Hasmah, during their medical studies, and they married in 1956.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #personal-life
19551 item
Mahathir was the island's first stationed doctor, witnessing its underdeveloped state—a memory that later influenced his efforts to transform it into a major tourist destination when he became prime minister
- #wikipedia
- #event
19541 item
Was sent to Alor Setar General Hospital before being posted to government clinics in Langkawi, Jitra, and Perlis
- #wikipedia
- #event
19532 items
From the University of Malaya, Mahathir began his housemanship at Penang General Hospital
- #wikipedia
- #event
Studied at Universiti Malaya (1953).
- #wikidata
- #education
19471 item
Mahathir, writing under the pen name 'Che Det' in The Sunday Times, published an article titled Malay Women Make Their Own Freedom, in which he discussed the struggle of Malay women in the post-war period and stated, "It
- #wikipedia
- #event
19251 item
Born 1925-07-10.
- #wikidata
- #birth
190013 items
Awarded Dostyk Order of grade I.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Royal Order of the Polar Star.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Order of Civil Merit.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Commander of the National Order of the Cedar.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: 1997 Asian financial crisis.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Member of the Dewan Rakyat.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Studied at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
- #wikidata
- #education
Career landmark: Participated in APEC Papua New Guinea 2018 (tournament / event).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Sauk Siege.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Participated in Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 (tournament / event).
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Studied at National University of Singapore.
- #wikidata
- #education
Career landmark: Security incidents involving Mahathir Mohamad.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: 2000 Sipadan kidnappings.
- #wikidata
- #milestone