At 99, a Seminal Asian Leader Reflects on a Contentious Legacy
Briefly

At the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir Mohamad, the 99-year-old former prime minister, attracted a large crowd eager for his attention. Mahathir's tenure spanned decades, transforming Malaysia's economy from reliance on traditional commodities to becoming a high-tech exporter. Despite these achievements, his legacy is contentious due to his harsh treatment of political adversaries and provocative statements regarding race and religion. His record-breaking return to office at the age of 92 in 2018 further exemplifies his complex and polarizing influence within Malaysian politics.
The man commanding all this attention was Mahathir Mohamad, 99, who served more years as prime minister than anyone in Malaysia's history.
He governed uninterrupted for 22 years, engineering an economic transformation that reshaped the country from one dependent on tin, rubber and palm oil.
Then in 2018, after a 15-year break, he was elected again at 92, setting a record as the world's oldest prime minister.
But he remains a deeply polarizing figure, reviled by many for clamping down hard on his political opponents.
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