Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who turned 100 today, said he did not want to be remembered for the power or posts he held, but for his contributions to Malaysia’s development.
Mahathir said he had always done his best to avoid abusing his power in the top post, and that he had only wanted to serve the people.
“I don’t want to be remembered because of the power I held. I just don’t want to be condemned for doing the wrong thing.
“What I want is simply to give the rakyat a better life,” he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.
The former MP said he had never planned to become prime minister, describing his first appointment in 1981 as a coincidence.
“I never worked to become prime minister. I didn’t even think I would hold the post. However, the situation then placed me at the right time and place, and I was appointed.
“That was the biggest achievement of my life,” he said.
Mahathir also thanked the well-wishers who had sent him birthday greetings today, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“I received a note from the prime minister wishing me a happy 100th birthday, and I thank him for that,” he said.
Mahathir led the Barisan Nasional (BN) government from 1981 to 2003 and held the top post again from May 2018 to February 2020 under the Pakatan Harapan administration, after helping to topple BN from power.
Since the formation of the unity government in November 2022, Mahathir has been openly critical of Anwar, his former deputy.
