MAHATHIR MOHAMAD

1. His personal and education background

Mahathir was born in peninsular Malaysia. He studies in the government English school in
Malaysia. After passing his senior Cambridge examination, Mahathir gained admission to King
Edward7 collage of medicine in Singapore. After graduated, he served at the government
hospitals, but later he opened his own clinic.

2. Reason why he could came to power

Mahathir won the parliamentary seat for Kota Setar in 1964. In 1969 Mahathir blamed the
government and particularly on the PM Tunku Abdul Rahman (the 1 st prime minister of
Malaysia). Mahathir blamed that Tunku is simple-minded and lacking proper understanding
and planning for a strong and prosperous Malaysia. Tunku, on the other hand, blamed
“extremists “like Mahathir as cause of the racial clashes. As a result, Mahathir was expelled
from UMNO. After that he returned to his own clinic. When Abdul Razak Hussien(2 nd prime
minister) become PM in 1970, he reinstated Mahathir in UMNO in 1972 and appointed him
senator in 1973. In 1974 Mahathir was a minister of education. In 1975 he was elected as one
of the vice-president of UNMO. When the 2 nd prime minster died, Hussen Onn(3 rd PM)
appointed Mahathir his deputy. In 1981 Mahathir became the 4 th PM after the 3rd PM retired.

3. What were his main policy? ( in this point, I talk only LOOK EAST POLICY )
The Look East Policy was launched in late 1981, at the beginning of Mahathir’s career as Prime
Minister. The policy did not just focus on Japan, but South Korea and Taiwan as well. Looking
east also did not mean following all Eastern habits blindly or trading solely with these
countries, it was learning the good values of the East, particularly their work ethics and their
technological skills. There was a huge emphasis on developing co-operative projects to
facilitate the transference of technology that would benefit both sides.

4. Were there any oppositions to his rule?

Mahathir argued that such concentration of power was necessary for social stability and
economic development, but critic argued that Mahathir unnecessarily diminished the
democratic freedom and they also claimed that the growth of government power let to the
abuse of power. In 1986/7 the Mahathir’s biggest political challenge occurred when elements
of his own party rebelled against his leadership. Partly this was a matter of personality and of
discontent with Mahathir’s dominating’s style.
 Mahathir detaining 106 people including leading opposition personality, 3 newspaper were
closed that always critical of Mahathir’s government
In 1998, Mahathir claimed Anwar Ibrahim had acted incompetently in the face of financial
crisis and later police formally charged him with performing homosexual acts and corruption.
In 1999, Anwar was sentenced.
5. How was Malaysia under his rule generally?
 Mahathir’s long prime minister gave Malaysia the political stability needed for economic
growth
 Dr. Mahathir turned Malaysia’s economy from agriculture-reliant to industrials-base, at the
same time elevating Malaysia’s position as the 17 th biggest trading nation in the world.
He opened the country to foreign investment, reformed taxation.
 During the ASEAN financial crisis of 1997, Dr. Mahathir resisted the international
Momentary Fund aid and implementing Malaysia’s very own formula for economic
recovery which remains a model for economic success reduced trade barriers, privatized
numerous state enterprise, besides creating a world class physical infrastructure.
 He sought to bridge Malaysia’s ethnic divides by increasing prosperity. Malaysia
developed into one of the most prosperous and dynamic economic in Southeast Asian, with
a burgeoning industrial sector, an expanding middle class and enhanced quality of life
Always with one eye on the future, In 1991 he created Vision 2020, a blueprint for
Malaysia’s journey to becoming a developed economy and a mature democracy by the year
2020.

For further information:

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~teh20y/classweb/worldpolitics/Education.html

http://www.slideshare.net/belalhossain6/mahathir-mohamad-presentation

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/asian-financial-crisis.asp