KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, said he would have stayed on in office had he known the quality of his successors’ leadership.
Speaking at the Asian Leadership Conference 2021, Dr Mahathir, who stepped down from the top job in 2003 after 22 years, described it as the decision he was most dissatisfied with during his tenure.
He became prime minister again from May 2018 to February last year, during Pakatan Harapan’s rule.
Dr Mahathir said when he retired in 2003, he thought his successors would continue his work to develop the country, but this did not happen.
“Unfortunately, they made a 180° turn. They decided that (being in a) leadership (position) gave them the opportunity to do things that are not right,” he told the conference’s Global Leader’s Perspective segment.
“They abused their powers, and now, this country is called a kleptocracy, ruled by thieves.
“Had I known, I would have stayed on longer, even though I had served for 22 years. But of course, we know nothing about the future.”
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became prime minister in 2003, staying in the post for six years. His administration was hit with various controversies.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak held the post from April 2009 until May 2018, when he led Barisan Nasional to its first-ever general election defeat. His time in office was stained by allegations of corruption, including the massive 1Malaysia Development Bhd fraud.
Dr Mahathir stepped down as head of the PH government in February 2020 following the infamous Sheraton Move that gave rise to the current Perikatan Nasional administration led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On what he was most proud of as prime minister, Dr Mahathir said it was turning Malaysia into an “Asian Tiger” in the 1980s and 1990s.
“That’s something I’m satisfied with. It’s not about what I get, but about having successfully done something I had set out to do.”
His contributions to the country earned him the moniker Bapa Pemodenan (Father of Modernisation).
Earlier, the nonagenarian cited the privatisation of certain projects as among his most notable achievements.
He recalled how the government was not financially capable of completing the North-South Expressway, and he was forced to take it private.
“But, we made sure that only the people using the facility would pay for it. Those not using it shouldn’t be charged.
“Once the concept of privatisation and ‘users pay’ was accepted, most of the projects we had were able to take off. It provided the kind of base needed for the country to develop and attract investment.” – The Vibes, June 30, 2021
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