Dr. Mahathir bin Muhammad

Dr. Mahathir bin Muhammad

Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad became the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 July 1981. Dr. Mahathir was born on 20 December 1925 in Alor Star, the capital of the state of Kedah. He had his early and secondary education in his home town. Upon graduation he joined the Malaysian Government Service as a Medical Officer. He left the government serve in 1957 to set up his own practice. 

Dr. Mahathir has been active in politics since 1945. He has been a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) since its inception in 1946. Dr. Mahathir was first elected as a Member of Parliament following the General Election in 1964. However, he lost his seat in the subsequent General Election in 1969. 

Owing to his keen interest in the country's education he was appointed Chairman of the first Higher Education council in 1968, with membership in the Higher Education Advisory Council in 1972, Member of the University Court and University of Malaya Council, and Chairman of the National University Council 1974. In 1973 Dr. Mahathir was appointed a Senator. He relinquished this post in order to contest the 1974 General Election where he was returned unopposed. Following the elections Dr. Mahathir was appointed Minister of Education. 

In 1976 Dr. Mahathir was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. On October 31, 2003 Dr Mahathir stepped down as the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. Dr Mahathir IS credited with having turned Malaysia's economy from agriculture-reliant to industrial-base, at the same time elevating Malaysia's position as the 17th biggest trading nation in the world. He opened the country to foreign investment, reformed taxation, During the Asian financial crisis of 199711998, Dr Mahathir resisted the International Monetary Fund aid and implementing Malaysia's very own formula for economic recovery which remains a model for economic success. reduced trade barriers, privatised numerous state enterprises, 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 economies in Southeast Asia, with a burgeoning industrial sector, an expanding middle class and enhanced quality of life. Always with one eye on the future, in 1991 he unveiled Vision 2020, a blueprint for Malaysia's journey to becoming a developed economy and a mature democracy by the year 2020. Malaysia also played a more active role in the international arena, acting as the voice for developing nations in Asia and Africa. 

Dr. Mahathir is married to a doctor, Dr. Siti Hasmah, and they have seven children and sixteen grandchildren.