Mahathir bin Muhammad (1925– )

Malaysian politician, prime minister 1981–2003. Leader of the New United Malays' National Organization (UMNO Baru), his ‘look east’ economic policy, which emulated Japanese industrialization, promoted Malaysia's rapid modernization and withstood a serious challenge in 1997 when the Malaysian currency came under attack from international speculators. There followed austerity measures in 1998, including the repatriation of many foreign workers, but by the time that Mahathir stepped down as prime minister economic growth had resumed. He promoted ‘Asian values’, which included an authoritarian governing style and the use of state power to suppress opponents via the media, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. He was succeeded as prime minister and leader of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He was re-elected prime minister 1986, but alienated sections of UMNO by his authoritarian leadership and from 1988 led a reconstituted UMNO Baru (New UMNO). In 1994 he temporarily suspended all forthcoming trade deals with the UK after allegations in the British press that aid for Malaysia's Pergau dam had been given in exchange for an arms contract in 1988. In 1998 his deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who was emerging as a rival, was controversially sacked for alleged corruption and sexual misconduct and found guilty and imprisoned a year later.

Born in Kedah state, of part-Indian and part-Malay ancestry, Mahathir practised as a doctor from 1957 before being elected to the house of representatives in 1964. He gained the support of the radical youth wing of the then dominant UMNO as an advocate of economic help to bumiputras (ethnic Malays) and as a proponent of a more Islamic social policy. Mahathir held a number of ministerial posts from 1974 before being appointed prime minister and UMNO leader in 1981. After retiring from politics in 2003, he served as advisor to the Malaysian national oil company Petronas and the Malaysian national car company Proton.