Post by : Badri Ariffin

Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, celebrated his 101st birthday on July 10, 2026. Born on July 10, 1925, in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir is the youngest of nine siblings and remains one of the country's most recognised political figures.

He has been married to Dr Hasmah Ali since 1956. Dr Hasmah is set to celebrate her 100th birthday in two days.

Recovering After a Hip Fracture

Earlier this year, Mahathir was admitted to the National Heart Institute after suffering a hip fracture following a fall at his home. Considering his age, he chose physiotherapy instead of surgery as part of his recovery.

Although he has been using a wheelchair since the accident, Mahathir continues to attend public events. His latest public appearance was in Langkawi last Sunday, where he met members of the public.

Nearly Seven Decades in Malaysian Politics

Mahathir has spent almost 70 years in Malaysian politics, working with and opposing several major political parties during his long career. Throughout the years, he has been associated with Umno, DAP, PKR, and PAS at different stages of Malaysia's political journey.

Most of his political career was spent with Umno. Although he was once removed from the party, he later returned and eventually became its president.

Two Terms as Prime Minister

Mahathir first served as Malaysia's prime minister from 1981 to 2003, making him the country's longest-serving leader. He returned to office after the May 2018 general election, when Barisan Nasional was voted out of power.

His second term ended in February 2020 following the Sheraton Move, which resulted in the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan-led government.

Major Policies and National Projects

During his 22 years as Malaysia's fourth prime minister, Mahathir introduced several key policies and development initiatives. One of his best-known programmes was the Look East Policy, aimed at strengthening education and business ties with countries including Japan and South Korea.

He also supported the creation of Proton, Malaysia's first locally made car.

Under his leadership, several landmark national projects were launched, including the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and Putrajaya, which became Malaysia's administrative centre.

Efforts to Unite Malay Politics

Mahathir also led several initiatives aimed at strengthening political unity among the Malay community. However, these efforts did not achieve lasting success.

In May, he said he had failed to unite the Malays. During different periods of his political career, he led Umno, Bersatu, and Pejuang.

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