Mahathir Mohamad

1925: Born in Alor Star, Kedah state. Excels academically before becoming medical doctor

1946: Joins United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) – party formed to seek independence
from Britain

1964: Elected to Parliament

1969: Loses seat and is expelled from UMNO after criticising Malaysia’s first prime
minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman

1970: Mahathir’s book The Malay Dilemma argues that ethnic Malays are being eclipsed economically by ethnic Chinese. He rejoins UMNO two years later

1981: Becomes Malaysia’s fourth prime minister – oversees transformation of country from
sleepy backwater to one of Asia’s leading economies

1998: Economic crises strike. Mahathir sacks deputy Anwar Ibrahim, who is jailed in 1999 on charges of corruption and sodomy

2003: Angers many foreign governments by attacking Jews in major speech delivered just
days before retirement

2008: Resigns from UMNO after allegations that Prime Minister Najib Razak is embroiled in multibillion dollar financial scandal involving state development fund

2016: Starts new party, Bersatu, which joins Pakatan Harapan opposition alliance

May 2018: Aged 92, Mahathir becomes world’s oldest elected leader after shock victory that
ends ruling coalition’s six-decade grip on power


Sources: ABC, BBC, Reuters 
Picture: Getty Images 
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