Kuala Lumpur – 8th October, 2011 :

Tun Dr. Mahathir has always been and continue to be an impressive speaker even though he is about 86 years old now. I still remember when I was child, whenever he appeared on television or government events, I will try not to miss his speech. The way he speaks always motivated and inspired me to succeed.

Tun Dr.Mahathir as we all know him is a master at handling crowds and playing up to the audience. As always, I really enjoyed his speech & the dialogue session today, especially the way he voice out his opinion and spice it up with his trademark sarcasm. The topic was  “The Emerging New Socio-Political Order & the Implications to Entrepreneurs” . Keep it coming Tun.

I had an opportunity to have a short discussion with him at the end of the event and towards the end of our conversation, I told how I felt about him, which made him to burst into laughter. What a memorable day and my wife was at right place to capture the perfect moment in digital. Before leaving, he wished me all the best in my future endeavours. 

Tun, you are  “An intellect among Politicians and a Politician among the Intellects”

 The event was organised by OPM 28 Reunion, Harvard Business School at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Official Profile of Tun Mahathir @ “Father of modernisation” :

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad became the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 July 1981.

Born on 20 December 1925 in Alor Setar, the capital of the State of Kedah, Tun Dr. Mahathir did his early and secondary education in his home town. In 1947, he gained admission into the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore.

Upon graduation, he joined the Malaysian government service as a Medical Officer. He left in 1957 to set up his own practice in Alor Setar.

Tun 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.

He was first elected as a Member of Parliament following the General Elections 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, Member of the Higher Education Advisory Council in 1972, Member of the University Court and University of Malaya Council, and Chairman of the National University Council in 1974.

In 1973, Tun Dr. Mahathir was appointed a Senator. He relinquished this post in order to contest in the 1974 General Elections where he was returned unopposed. Following the elections, Tun Dr. Mahathir was appointed the Minister of Education.

In 1976, Tun Dr. Mahathir was made Deputy Prime Minister in addition to his Education portfolio. In a Cabinet reshuffle two years later, he relinquished the Education portfolio for that of Trade and Industry. As Minister of Trade and Industry, he led several investment promotion missions overseas. Tun Dr. Mahathir was elected as one of the three Vice Presidents of UMNO in 1975. In 1978, he won the Deputy President seat and in 1981, he was appointed President of the party. He was returned unopposed as President in 1984.

In the 1987 party elections, Tun Dr. Mahathir defeated his challenger to retain the Presidency and in 1990 and 1993, he was again returned unopposed as party President. Under his leadership, the ruling party Barisan Nasional (National Front) won landslide victories in the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995 and 1999 General Elections.

Tun Dr. Mahathir is married to a doctor, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah bt Mohd Ali, and they have seven children Marina, Mirzan, Melinda, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Maizura and Mazhar.

Tun Dr. Mahathir stepped down as Prime Minister on October 31st 2003.

(Above Tun’s Profile Source: PMO Website)

Some of the events Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was responsible during the 22 years he was in power :

» Time zones between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak synchronised

» Malaysia Inc. launched » Bank Islam established »First national car project launched – Proton Saga becomes Malaysia’s first car

» Penang Bridge, Southeast Asia’s longest, built

» Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eight Malaysia plans launched

» Bahasa Baku programme introduced in lower secondary schools but fails

» Vision 2020 revealed »Malaysia Online with project Jaring launched

» Tenaga Nasional and Telekom Malaysia privatised

» North South Highway completed

» Multimedia Super Corridor, with Cyberjaya as its hub, formed

» Measat 1, Malaysia’s first satellite, launched into space

» Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest buildings, completed

» Light Rail Transit changes the face of urban transportation

»KL International Airport in Sepang opened

» Formula One races in Malaysia

» Pegging of RM3.8 to US$1 during the 1997 financial crisis

» Putrajaya becomes administrative centre

Note to readers : Do let me know, if I missed any events, will be happy to add it in if it is appropriate.