Mahathir Mohamad Mohamad Mahathir was born in 1925 in Sebrang Perak. He joined the UMNO in 1945. He is a graduate of the University of Malaya in Singapore where he got a medical degree (1955). From 1955 to 1957, he was a medical officer in the Kedah Government. In 1957, he set up his own practice in Alor Setar. In 1964, he won his first election as a member of the Alliance and became a member of Parliament for Kota Star Selatan. In 1969, he lost his constituency and was later on expelled from UMNO. Readmitted in 1972. In 1973, appointed Senator. In 1974, he was elected uncontested member of Parliament and appointed Minister of Education. In 1975, he was elected Vice-President of UMNO. In 1976, appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Home Minister, then Minister of Trade and Industry. In 1978, being re-elected in his constituency, he was also elected Deputy President of UMNO. In 1981, he was elected President of UMNO and became Prime Minister (July 16, 1981). He retired from politics, undefeated at the polls in 2004. | |||
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