“Leadership is about showing the way forward to the people you are leading... he must know where he is going, and how he is going to get there. To lead, he must have authority.... If he is a good leader, he will use his authority for the good of the people he leads.”
“I believe that every leader has a right to implement his own policy. But when I see things that are done that are not right - abuse of power, wrong approaches, wrong strategies, making use of foreign consultants, including those discarded by other countries - I feel that I have to have my say.”
“To be a great leader, one needs to have good strategies, be knowledgeable and able to predict the future.” - Mahathir Mohamad
During the past seventy years, two types of leaders have emerged in the developing world —first type, the honest and visionary leaders who have led their countries towards great progress and development, and second type, the corrupt-to-the-bone, selfish and myopic leaders who have looted and plundered their countries’ resources and wealth and caused financial meltdown of their economies. Dr Mahathir Mohamad belongs to the first type of leaders; his visionary leadership has transformed Malaysia from an agricultural-based developing country to an industrialized country that would become the 17th-largest trading nation in the world.
Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad aka Datuk Seri Mahathir bin Mohamad (b. July 10, 1925) served as the 4 th and 7th prime minister of Malaysia (1981-2003, 2018-2020). During his two tenures, spanning over twenty-four years, he promoted political stability, and formulated policies that attracted foreign investment, reformed the tax structure, reduced trade tariffs, and privatized state-owned enterprises — cumulative effect of which led to enormous economic growth — increasing GDP per capita of $1791(1981) to $10,412 (2020).
The autobiography “A Doctor in The House — The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad” reveals various phases of Dr Mahathir’s life, which has witnessed every major development in Malaysian history — from the WWII and the MacMichael Treaties, to independence, industrialization and the making of modern Malaysia — culminating in the political and financial problems of the late 1990s and the challenges of the 21 st century.
But Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s (DMM) remarkable achievement was not without controversy — his extraordinary leadership and iron grip earned him both foes as well as admirers at home and abroad. The West has called him recalcitrant, racist, anti-Semitic, and arrogant. But people all over the globe have also described him as an inspiring, courageous, and outspoken defender of the oppressed, the Third World, and Islam.
DMM narrates his story — in 62 chapters spanned over 809 pages — covering a wide spectrum of topics which include: Becoming Prime Minister, Family Values, The Story Of The Malays, Going To Medical College, The Bitter Thrill Of Politics, The Malay Dilemma, The Political Ladder, Reaching The Top, From Ideas To Action, Looking East, The Europeans, Realigning Malaysia In The World, The Malaysianisation Of Companies, Islam And Islamisation, Introducing Privatization, Revving Our Engines, New Challenges, New Solutions, Vision 2020, Marketing Malaysia, The Growth Of ASEAN, Law And Order: Police, Politicians And The Public, Currency Crumble, Great Games, Remarkable Gains, Financial Crisis Fallout, 9/11 And The Muslim World, The OIC Furore, Problems With Singapore, Legacy and New Dilemmas, and many other topics.
Reminiscing about the family’s role in his upbringing, DMM states: “My sisters and brothers also played a role in my upbringing…Through teaching me to be modest, my mother also handed down the values of tolerance and respect…My father gave all his children the education they needed to make their way in life. But I have always felt that, of my brothers, I was the luckiest because my father gave me the highest level of education. That is why I was better off than all my siblings…While my father stressed general education, my mother insisted that her children learn the teachings of Islam early in life. She was good at reading the Qur’an and she taught us herself. My eldest sister, Rafeah, whose nickname was Putih, was known for her good voice when reciting the Qur’an. I was closer to my mother than to my father and as a result, she shaped my personality more. She taught me the values that I have upheld throughout my life, especially to be modest and not boastful about what I have done… My father, Mohamad bin Iskandar, was a man of unusual character when it came to education. He ran to school and not away from it, and he hid his attendance from his parents. It was this peculiarity that ultimately taught me to revere learning and knowledge.”
Commenting on the economic transformation of Malaysia, DMM notes: “Because of pragmatic policies, Malaysia made a smooth transition from an agricultural economy to an industrial one. The sons and daughters of subsistence farmers and fishermen now work in air-conditioned factories, handling delicate instruments and producing sophisticated products for the world market. Today, Malaysia is among the most developed in the developing world. It plays a significant role in international affairs, focusing mainly on the injustices perpetrated by the wealthier nations against poorer ones. It has been one of the most outspoken of Islamic countries. We have flourished economically. Kuala Lumpur, an unknown capital of 300,000 inhabitants at Independence, has been transformed into a cosmopolitan city of more than two million. Its skyline is characterized by impressive buildings led by the luminous PETRONAS Twin Towers, once the tallest in the world. Our development plans have always taken into account the needs of the day and those of the distant future.”
Expounding on the importance of human capital for becoming a developed country, DMM observes: “Ultimately, we realized, there could be no modern economy, society, industry or technology unless there were truly modern people at the heart and core of this new Malaysia. New buildings, systems and industries alone were not enough — the missing part was people. What was needed were Malaysians who, through education and science, could find their way forward while retaining their characteristically Asian values and human identities. At times I fear that while we have succeeded in producing modern industries and mastered new technologies, we have failed to fully advance ourselves — our psyches and mindsets and ways of thinking — as Malaysians… Vision 2020 was launched in 1991 and was a 30-year plan of what we needed to do in order to become a developed country.”
Reflecting on the success of democracy, DMM notes: “I have written about the wisdom of our founding fathers who crafted a political system that has enabled the country to democratically and peacefully resolve the problems and challenges inherent in a complex society. Malaysia may not be styled after the liberal democracies of the West, but it is led by governments elected by the people at the central and state levels. Not many former colonies have been able to make democracy work.”
Commenting on his bold leadership during the currency crisis, DMM states: “The world condemned our currency controls and many economists said that they were not in keeping with the open-market trading system. Experts predicted disaster for Malaysia and gleefully anticipated its return with a begging bowl. But we were not deterred. We believed we had found the right answer to the plundering of small countries by the rich currency traders. It may have been unconventional, but it worked. Let others uphold the economic doctrine we had a country and ourselves to save. In the end, we recovered faster than all the countries that, freely or under duress, accepted loans from the IMF and submitted to its one-size-fits-all solution. The currency traders ceased their operations. Even the IMF eventually admitted that our way had worked, though they would not recommend it to other countries. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, endorsed our views. Even Soros later acknowledged that Malaysia had done the right thing in not submitting to the IMF… Joseph Stiglitz in his book Globalization and its Discontents criticizes the IMF's handling of the financial crisis.”
DMM has described his relationship with Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore as “a civil relationship not a friendship.” In this regard he further observes: “I had clashed with Lee many times when we were Members of Parliament in the 1964 and 1965 parliamentary sessions. I did not like his endless preaching about what Malaysia should do or should be like. Bitter over the painful separation, he called Malays ‘the jungle Arabs’, likening them to the desert Arabs of whom he seemed to have a low opinion. I doubt he would disparage the Arabs today as Singapore is now far more active than Malaysia in wooing investors from the Middle East, and being the model as well as their advisers for development.”
Comparing the transformation approach of Russians with Chinese, DMM notes: “I have great admiration for the Chinese leaders. They were smarter than the Russians. While the Russians tried to change both their political and economic systems at the same time, the Chinese retained their powerful centralized government while reforming only their economic system. They have managed to create a hybrid capitalist/socialist economy where the state owns and controls most of the big businesses, but private entrepreneurs may still exploit opportunities and prosper. The superiority of the Chinese approach over that of the Russians is obvious.”
Explaining his views on resolving conflicts, DMM states: “I have stated repeatedly in my writings and speeches that I am against war and have always believed that there are different and peaceful ways of solving political conflicts, even between nations. I stand by my words at the 10th OIC Summit and once again quote from my speech to indicate my intentions: ‘We must not antagonize everyone. We must win their hearts and minds. We must win them to our side, not by begging for help from them but by the honorable way that we struggle to help ourselves. We must not strengthen the enemy by pushing everyone into their camps through irresponsible and unlslamic acts. Remember the considerateness of the Prophet [pbuh] to the enemies of Islam. We must do the same. It is winning the struggle that is important, not angry retaliation, not revenge.’”
Expounding on the social issues, DMM observes: “In recent years, we have also had the problem of an imbalance in our university students, up to 70 per cent of whom are now female. It cannot be that so few boys are capable of qualifying for entry. Many say that they prefer to work and earn an income rather than spend several years in universities earning nothing. Some say they prefer to be trained as technicians, but you do not see them working in these fields. Many are involved in activities which verge on the criminal. Almost all the mat rempit — the motorcycle daredevils — are Malays, as are most drug addicts. Unless a way is found to draw Malay boys into university education, the qualified girls are not going to find husbands they can look up to and respect. Poorly-qualified husbands will earn less than their wives…Their [Malay men] attitude makes me worry about the Malay future. Where, I wonder, have we gone wrong?”
Reflecting on his love for horse-riding, DMM notes: “What I do like is horse-riding, which I learnt to do at the age of 60. I was invited by the late General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the President of Pakistan, to review the annual parade on the country's national day. We went by car and then we got into a horse-drawn carriage flanked by Pathan horsemen in full military uniform. I was impressed by what I saw, and I decided to buy two horses in Pakistan. President Zia got to know about my interest and decided to make me a gift of the two horses.”
Expressing his concerns about the future of Malays, DMM observes: “I continue to worry about the future of the Malays. If they do not learn how to face the challenges of the present and future as a people, what will happen to them is clear. They will again be pushed, as they were under colonial rule, to the margins where their survival as individuals or families, and as a people even, will become ever more precarious. Malay survival and continuity cannot be assumed, but must be continually pursued. Malays must take the next phase of history and their future into their own hands. They must master the knowledge, wisdom and understanding that can enable them to do so effectively. They must acquire important skills that will empower them. But these alone will not be enough. The Malays must revisit their past and learn from history's tough lessons in order to secure their place in the world.”
Dr Mahathir Mohamad concludes the book with these remarks: “I am grateful to the people of Malaysia whose support had enabled me to lead this, my beloved country, for 22 years. I had tried my best although I cannot be a judge of my own work. It is up to the people of today and the future to pass judgment. As for me, I must admit that the greatest satisfaction that I get is from seeing physical evidence of the success of the plans and policies which were formulated while I was Prime Minister. I do not claim the results as my work alone. People from every stratum of society, the civil servants, colleagues in the Government, and members of my party have all contributed. I say prayers to Allah swt for His beneficence and for giving me parents who brought me up and instilled in me the values which made my career possible.”
A Doctor in The House — The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (MPH Group Publishers, Malaysia, 2012) is essential reading for all students of political science, leadership, and international affairs, as well as general readers. Dr Mahathir Mohamad has narrated his contributions — in a simple but eloquent manner — for transforming Malaysia into an economic powerhouse. The book can also be used as a reference for academic programs in the areas of history, civics, government, politics, international relations, conflict resolution and leadership.
