SHAH ALAM - Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad turns 101 today.
He was born on Jul 10, 1925 in Kampung Seberang Perak, Alor Setar, Kedah.
His wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, will turn 100 on Jul 12.
The couple, now in their 70th year of marriage, have seven children: Marina, Mirzan, Melinda, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Maizura and Mazhar.
Dr Mahathir became Malaysia’s fourth prime minister on Jul 16, 1981 and remains the country’s longest-serving leader, having ruled for 22 years.
Mega projects developed under his administration include the Penang Bridge, the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), Putrajaya and the Sepang International Circuit.
He was also the architect of Wawasan 2020, the national vision to achieve developed nation status by 2020.
In 1997, Asiaweek magazine named him among Asia’s 50 most powerful people.
In 2018, after his coalition won the 14th general election (GE14), Dr Mahathir was sworn in again as prime minister - his second stint and Malaysia’s seventh.
Though retired from politics, the statesman remains active, sharing his views through writing and television appearances.
Earlier this year, he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) after fracturing his right hip in a fall at his home in The Mines, Seri Kembangan.
He is now recovering and recently made time to meet the public in Langkawi.