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Dr M turns 100
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad turned 100 years old today.
Born on July 10, 1925, he is the only politician who has held the country’s top executive post twice and also holds the record as the world’s oldest prime minister when he was re-elected in May 2018.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad turned 100 years old today.
Born on July 10, 1925, he is the only politician to have held the country’s top executive post twice and also holds the record as the world’s oldest prime minister when he was re-elected in May 2018.
He is also the longest-serving Malaysian premier so far, with his first stint in office lasting 22 years beginning in 1981 before resigning in 2003.
However, his political fortunes took a nosedive during his second stint from 2018-2020 after he was deposed following a political coup staged by his then-party Bersatu.
In the 2022 general election, Mahathir lost his deposit when seeking re-election as Langkawi MP.
Despite this, the centenarian remains a presence in local politics.
His latest venture is spearheading the Defend the Judiciary Secretariat, which is seeking his archnemesis, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to take a leave of absence pending the disposal of a civil lawsuit against the latter over alleged sexual harassment.
It is also pushing for Anwar to stay out of judicial appointments, amid allegations of interference in the process after Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired as chief justice.
Mahathir is often criticised for orchestrating the judicial crisis of 1988, during his first premiership.
READ MORE: Will an RCI finally exorcise the judicial ghosts of '88?
Among others, this entailed an amendment to Article 121 of the Federal Constitution in 1988 that essentially removed the independence of the judiciary and made the courts subservient to federal laws passed by Parliament.
It also saw the controversial removal of Salleh Abas as lord president of the Supreme Court, purportedly for his letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay rulers opposing the changes.
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