Mahathir Mohamad

Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was born in Alor Star, Kedah on 20th December 1925. He received his early education at the Malay School, Seberang Perai, and later continued his secondary education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Star.


In 1947, Dr. Mahathir pursued his education in medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine, which later became part of the University of Malaya, Singapore. He graduated in 1952 with a Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). He married Siti Hasmah bt Ali on 5th August 1952 and were blessed with seven children, four boys and three girls.


Upon graduation, Dr. Mahathir spent his housemanship at the General Hospital, Pulai Pinang, and was appointed Medical Officer, General Hospital, Alor Setar; and at District Hospital, Langkawi, Jitra and Perlis. In 1957, together with Siti Hasmah, they became the first Malay doctors to open up a private clinic in Kedah.


The unstable political environment during the colonial days in the then Federation of Malaya moulded Dr. Mahathir as a thinker. Poverty and backwardness of the masses during World War II and the Japanese occupation strengthened his desire and commitment to be champion of the cause. Even during his school days, he had the voice of a patriot. Dr. Mahathir realized that political weakness will not bring about changes. His determination to free his motherland from colonial domination led him to participate in SABERKAS Youth Movement, and became active in politics. In 1945, he joined the Kedah Malay Youth Movement (Kesatuan Melayu Mudah Kedah), and when UMNO was formed in 1946, he joined the party as one of the early pioneers.


In the 1964 General election, Dr. Mahathir was selected to contest on and an Alliance ticket and won the Parliamentary seat of Kota Selatan. Luck was not with him when he lost the same seat in the 1969 General Election. After the 13th May 1969 incident, Dr. Mahathir was expelled from the party. However, when Tun Abdul Razak replaced Tunku Abdul Rahman as President of UMNO and as Prime Minister, he was readmitted into UMNO in early 1972. He was appointed a Senator in 1973, and in the 1974 General Election, he contested and won unopposed the Kubang Pasu Parliamentary seat. On 6th October 1974, Dr. Mahathir was appointed Minister of Education.


When Tun Abdul Razak passed away in 1975 and Dato� Husein Onn took over the Premiership, he appointed Dr. Mahathir as Deputy Prime Minister, besides holding his Education portfolio. Dr. Mahathir was then one of the three UMNO Vice-Presidents.


On 16th July 1981, Dr. Mahathir was appointed the fourth Prime Minister replacing Dato� Hussein Onn, who resigned on account of ill-health. The following year, he won the UMNO Presidency in the UMNO General Assembly. Since the 1982 General Election, he successively won the Parliamentary seat of Kubang Pasu.