KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for extending birthday wishes as he marked his 100th birthday today.
Speaking in a special podcast streamed live on his official Facebook page, Dr Mahathir described reaching the century mark as both a blessing and a scary experience.
“I am glad I received a note from Anwar Ibrahim, PMX, wishing me a good birthday, 100th birthday, thank you.
“I’ve received a lot of good wishes on my 100th birthday and I’d like to thank all those who sent cakes, flowers, letters and for turning up to wish me a happy 100th birthday. To be 100 is quite frightening,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said his day began early at 5am, starting off like any other normal day.
“We have a podcast, we get to meet people and I think a lot came to see me, more than usual, so thank you very much and thank you for the podcast as it allowed me to explain many issues which I have always tried to address,” he said.
Born on July 10, 1925, Dr Mahathir remains a towering figure in Malaysian history, having served as both the country’s fourth and seventh prime minister.
He led the nation during two separate terms - from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.
During the podcast, he touched on several key global and domestic issues, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
He also expressed admiration for Asian nations such as China and Japan, noting their economic rise and emergence as global powerhouses in various sectors.
Dr Mahathir also took a moment to reflect on his political journey, recalling the events and individuals who helped pave his way to becoming prime minister.