Mahathir Mohamad: Father of Modernization: Life as Prime Minister

In 1981, after Dr. M became Prime Minister, at that time, he was 56 years old. One of his first acts after been Prime Minister was to release 21 detainees held under the Internal Security Act (ISA). In ISA, there is few person Dr. M release from ISA. It is including Samad Ismail, journalist and a former deputy minister in Hussein’s government, Abdullah Ahmad, who had been suspected of being an underground communist.

In first two years been Prime Minister, his still caution when doing the jobs because he got enemies even from his own party. So he appointed his close friend, Musa Hitam, as Deputy Prime Minister that can help him in doing his jobs.

Even though in first two years he face a lot of barrier, but he did not give up continuing his jobs as Prime Minister. In that two years, his power as President UMNO still strong and with the victory in general election 1982, he still bear to be President UMNO and Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Well when be Prime Minister, for sure Dr. M have many works to do to make sure Malaysia stable. 1983, Dr. M start the battles to protect people in Malaysia. In that years, power of Yang di-Pertuan Agong been question by public because some cases that involved Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Dr. M tried to preemptively limit the power that the Agong could wield over his government. He introducing to parliament about deem the Agong to assent to any bill that had not been assented within 15 days of passage by parliament. It is also would remove the power to declare a state of emergency from the Agong and placed it with the Prime Minister. Some of Agong is agree but when they realized that it is also deem Sultans to assent to laws passed by state assemblies, they disagree about it. When Dr. M got opposition from many sides, he makes demonstrate in street to show he did not satisfy with the decision. After 5 month, the crisis is solve by agreement by both sides.

There have many incidents that happen during Dr. M been Prime Minister such as been challenged by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Dr. M been challenges for the presidency of UMNO. It is happen because Razaleigh gots support from Musa. Musa state that Dr. M did not trust him again and it is more like to revenge to Dr. M.

At final years as Prime Minister, Dr. M face many things until Dr. M announced that he would resign as Prime Minister. At that time, the supporters rush to stage and convince him to remain. But when he make the decision, he stick with the decision. On October 2003, he give the position to his anointed successor, Abdullah Badawi. Having spent over 22 Years in office, he was the world’s longest-serving leader.