Malaysian prime minister who imposed capital controls against IMF advice in 1998
Born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir became a physician and, practising there, grew active in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). After losing his seat in the 1969 election he criticised Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and was expelled from the party, and in 1970 he published The Malay Dilemma. Readmitted in 1972, he served as minister of education and of trade and industry and as deputy prime minister, and was prime minister in 1981–2003 and 2018–2020. In the Asian financial crisis he defied the IMF in 1998, pegging the ringgit at 3.80 to the dollar and imposing capital controls, and that year dismissed his deputy Anwar Ibrahim. He left UMNO in 2016.
Also known as: Mahathir bin Mohamad
Activities and affiliations
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1959–1969
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Political and party leadership -
1964–1969
Malaysia state institutionsMember of Parliament
Legislature and state representation -
1972–2016
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Political and party leadership -
1974–1981
Malaysia state institutionsMinister of Education, Minister of Trade and Industry, Deputy Prime Minister
Government and administration -
1981–2020
Malaysia state institutionsPrime MinisterMain
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1964–1969Member of Parliament
- 1970Published The Malay Dilemma
- 1981–2003Prime Minister
- 1998Pegged the ringgit and imposed capital controls
- 2018–2020Prime Minister