RUAI INDAI BEN

PENGAWA, MAIN, PENDIAU ENGGAU PENGIDUP.... --WORK, PLAY, LIFE AND LIVING-Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia

Group Assignment for Malaysian Studies (MPW 1133) QUESTION: Discuss the background and contribution of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Tun Dr Mahathir Muhamad

Introduction
Malaysians have all sorts of emotions when it comes to Tun Dr Mahathir, You just have to say his name, and you get all sorts of reactions Comments made by Lina Tan (Editor and Producer of Mahathir, on the History Channel (Astro Channel 555) Yes, it is true, when you mention the name Mahathir, even among students, you surely get all sort of comments and reactions. His name Dr M is synonym to the vast development of modern Malaysia. He is a very well-known political leader who served as Prime Minister of Malaysia for 21 long years, making him Malaysias longest-serving Prime Minister, and one of the longest serving leaders in Asia. He is always remembered as the man behind Malaysias rapid modernization. He is also known for his criticisms towards western and developed countries, considered to be one of the Asias most influential leaders and noted in the Western world as an outspoken critic of Western Style of globalization. ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki) In this group work, we are going to discuss in detail the background and contributions of Dr Mahathir as the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir Background
Real name of Dr Mahathir is Mahathir bin Muhamad. He was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia on 20 December 1925. His Fathers name is Mohamad bin Iskandar. Mahathir was the youngest child of nine children of Mohamad Iskandar who was a schoolteacher and Wan Tampawan who was a

housewife. He was mixed blood of Indian and Malay. His father, a Malayalee Muslim, was an Indian, originated from Kerala, India, while his mother, was a Malay. During the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, Mahathir sold pisang goring(banana fritters) and other snacks to supplement his family income. His first school was a Malay vernacular school. Then, he continued his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Star. After that, he went to King Edward VII Medical College (now known as National University of Singapore) in Singapore. During his study there, he was an editor of a medical student magazine called The Cauldron, and he also wrote for the The Straits Times newspaper using the nickname Che Det Tun Dr graduated in MBBS in 1953 from King Edward VII College of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Singapore. Dr Ms outstanding leadership talent was obviously shown during his college years. He was President of the Muslim Society in the college. Upon his graduation in 1953, Dr M joined the Malayan government service as a medical officer. In 1957 he set his own private practice in Alor Star after he left the government service. His private practice really thrived. He was able to own a Pontiac Catalina, a luxury car, and employ an ethnic Chinese chauffeur (even though majority of chauffeurs in Malaysia at that time were Malays). Some critics believe that this foreshadowed a later hallmark of Dr Ms politics, which focused on the cultivation of such emblem of power.

On 5th August 1956, Mahathir married Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali who was his fellow doctor and former classmate in college. They were blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters: Marina Mahathir, Mirzan Mahathir, Melinda Mahathir, Mokhzani Mahathir, Mukhriz Mahathir, Maizura Mahathir and Mazhar Mahathir. Both his sons, Mukhriz and Mokhzani are businessmen as well as politicians. His eldest daughter, Marina is a well-known Malaysian writer and AIDS activist.

Early Political Career

Dr Mahathirs political career began when he was elected member of the House of Representatives for Kota Setar Selatan in 1957. He remained such until 1964. In the third general election of 1964, Dr Mahathir was elected Member of Parliament for Kota Setar Selatan after defeating the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Partys (PAS) candidate with 60.2% majority. He lost the seat in the following general election in 1969 by a mere 989 votes to PASs candidate, Haji Yusoff Rawa.

Dr Mahathir led the race riots of 13 May 1969, following his widespread distribution to the public of his letter to Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister at that time. In his letter, he had criticized the manner in which Tunku Abdul Rahman handled the countrys administration which was believed to favour the ethnic Chinese. After the race riots of 13 May 1969, Dr Mahathir was sacked from the UMNO Supreme Council on 12 July. At this time, he resumed medical practice. It was then, he wrote The Malay Dilemma (1970) which he diagnosed the causes for the economically inferior position of Malays in genetic and cultural terms and prescribed positive discrimination to ensure their positions as definitive race. Although the government embarked on a similar course with its New Economic Policy, the book, published in 1970, was promptly by the Tunku Abdul Rahman government because it touched sensitive issues. However, some of the proposals in this book has been used by Tun Abdul Razak, Tunku Abdul Rahmans successor, in his New Economic Policy(NEP) that was principally geared towards affirmative action economic programs to address the nations economic disparity between the Malays and the non-Malays. The ban on his book was eventually lifted when Dr M himself became Prime Minister in 1981. Dr Mahathir was readmitted to UMNO on 7 March 1972, and after a brief membership of the Senate was elected to the House of Representatives as Member of Kubang Pasu in 1974. He relinquished the senatorship post in order to contest in the general elections where he was returned unopposed in the constituency of Kubang Pasu, and was then appointed as the Minister of Education. In 1975, he became one of the three vice-presidents of UMNO, after winning the seat by 47 votes. Tun Hussein Onn appointed Mahathir as Deputy Prime Minister on 15 September 1978, and in a Cabinet reshuffle, Dr M was appointed as the Minister of Trade and Industry (1977-1981). In 1981, he succeeded Hussein Onn as Prime Minister and President of UMNO.

Contributions of DR M as Prime Minister of Malaysia

The following are among the major contributions of Dr Mahathir during his long 22 years of service as Prime Minister of Malaysia: 1. Dr Mahathir has campaigned resolutely to maintain and strengthen racial harmony within Malaysia and to improve the position of the Malays in business and other matters in order to preserve a balance of opportunity for all. (Robin Adshead, Mahathir of Malaysia Statemen and Leader) 2. Inn the field of national development, Dr M has successfully created a paradigm shift in the structure of the economic system in Malaysia. Dr M has transformed Malaysia from a country that depended so much on self-subsistence agriculture, cultivation of rubber and tin mining, into a vibrant economic based on trading and industrialization. Malaysia now have heavy and high technology industries that have become developed and competitive and at par with other developed countries in the world.

3. Dr Mahathir has conceptualized VISION 2020, where by the year 2020 Malaysia is expected to be fully developed country. He has called upon the entire citizens of Malaysia to work harder and to prepare themselves to really achieve THAT VISION. 4. In the late 1990s, Dr Mahathir has taken steps to enable Malaysia to face the future by establishing the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), which emphasizes Information Technology (IT) as very important asset for the country in the new millennium. 5. In 1982 Dr Mahathir first announced the National Car Project, which is one of the many important developments as Malaysians forges ahead in achieving Vision 2020. It first started as joined venture between Perusahaan Outomotivle National Berhad, Proton, Hicom Berhad, Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. 6. Dr Mahathir has also initiated several changes in the administrative system of the country by introducing the following policies, good qualities of the East Asian countries:

Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy policy Leadership By Example Policy Instilling Islamic Values in Administration Policy

These policies would make the government machinery more efficient, of higher quality and more competitive. The implementation of such policies has resulted in the Malaysian Civil Service being one of the best in the world. 7. In the field of literature, Dr Mahathir has contributed greatly since his schooling days. Due to his great interest in writing Dr M was an editor of the Darulaman magazine, published by the Sultan Abdul HamidCollege. While studying at the University, he was the editor of the magazine published by the Medical College of Singapore. Among his works are The Monetary Crisis of Malaysia: How and Why It Happened, A New Deal for Asia, The Way Forward, The Voice of Asia: Tow Leaders Discuss the Coming Century, The Malaysian System of Government, Menerangi Kemiskinan: Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan, Regionalism, Globalism and Spheres of Influence, The Challenge, Guide for Small Businessmen, Malay Dilemma, Warisan Kepimpinan and Menghadapi Cabaran. 8. Dr Mahathir had successfully handled the financial crisis 1997 and stabilized Malaysian economy. 9. Dr Mahathir sought to make Malaysia an industrial nation and develop Malay businesses, and promoted non-individualistic "Asian values" while often denouncing the West. Although Malaysia made enormous and rapid economic progress under Mahathir, political stability was maintained by not tolerating dissent and restricting political freedoms, and his government was denounced for human-rights abuses. 10. In the field of telecommunications industry, during Dr Mahathir government, Telekom Malaysia has 3.8 million fixed line customers and 1.8 million mobile phone users in Malaysia. Banking system embarked on the extensive use of modern information technology. All schools are being equipped with computers. Information Technology specific

training institutions and universities are being established and knowledge workers encouraged to participate fully in economy.(MSC, 1998) 11. Dr Mahathir has made Malaysia less depending on neighbouring country port by constructed our own major ports like Tanjung Pelepas and West Port. This helps Malaysia to reduce foreign currency outflow. 12.

Dr Mahathir embarked on various large scale national projects, such as:

The North-South Highway, which has cut transport times in half on the west coast of Malaysia;

The Multimedia Super Corridor, a flagship project based on Silicon Valley designed to enable malaysias foray into information technology (it includes Malaysias new administrative capital Putrajaya);

Port of Tanjung Pelepas;

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, and an adjacent Formula One Circuit. The Bakun Dam, meant to supply all of the electricity needs of the East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak and which has enough capacity to enable exportation of power to Brunei. Olympic-class stadium in Bukit Jalil; and The Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world, the worlds tallest building from 1997-2003, that have become symbolic of modern Malaysia.

Retirement as Prime Minister Dr Mahathir retired as prime minister in 2003 and was succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Out of office he has continued to be outspoken and has become increasingly critical of the Malaysian government. In 2008 he resigned from the UMNO in protest against his successor's leadership and the party's poor showing in the national elections; he rejoined the party after Abdullah stepped down in 2009.

During the Dr Mahathirs long years of leadership, he has received numerous awards of achievement as shown in the table below:

YEAR

NAME OF AWARD

STATE Malaysia Selangor Sarawak,Malaysia

2003 S.M.N Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara 2003 D.K Darjah Kerabat Yang Amat Dihormati Selangor 2003 D.S.B.S. Darjah Satria Bintang Sarawak

2003 D.K. The Most Honourable Order Of The Royal Family Of Kedah 2002 D.K. The Most Esteemed Order Of The Royal Family Of Kelantan 1997 Tuanku Syed Putra Of Perlis Royal Outstanding Award 1997 S.S.A.P. Knight Commander Of The Sultan Ahmad Shah 1996 Fellowship of The International College of Surgeons 1996 Anugerah Cemerlang 1995 D.K. The Most Esteemed Order Of The Royal Family Of Tuanku Syed Putra 1994 Wira Keadilan 1992 Melaka Historical City's Honorary Citizen Award 1991 Wira Nusa Raya 1989 D.K.(I) The Most Esteemed Order Of The Royal Family Of Johor 1988 D.U.K. Kedah Order Of Merit 1985 'FAR', Father of Modern Development By the Pasir Salak UMNO Division 1985 P.I.S Sultan Ibrahim Medal I 1982 D.U.N.M Knight Grand Commander Of The Most Honourable Order Of Melaka 1982 S.S.M.T Seri Setia Sultan Mahmud Terengganu 1982 D.K.N.S The Most Esteemed Order Of The Royal Family Of Negeri Sembilan 1981 D.U.P.N Knight Grand Commander Of The Most Honourable Order Of Pulau Pinang

Kedah,Malaysia

Kelantan,Malaysia

Perlis,Malaysia Pahang,Malaysia Malaysia Perlis,Malaysia Perlis,Malaysia

Pasir Mas Foundation Melaka UMNO,Sabah Johor,Malaysia

Kedah,Malaysia Pasir Salak Johor,Malaysia Melaka,Malaysia

Terengganu Negeri Sembilan,Malaysia Pulau Pinang,Malaysia

1981 S.P.N.S Knight Commander Of The Most Honourable Order Of Negeri Sembilan 1981 S.P.D.K Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu 1981 S.P.C.M Seri Paduka Cura Si Manja Kini 1980 D.P.Sarawak Dato Patinggi Bintang Kenyalang 1979 S.P.M.J. Dato' Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor 1978 S.P.M.S. Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor 1977 D.S.D.K. Seri Setia DiRaja Kedah, Kedah 1977 SSAP 1976 The Second Tun(Dr) Ismail Oration Academy of Medical 1965 Pingat Perak

Negeri Sembilan,Malaysia Sabah,Malaysia Perak,Malaysia Sarawak,Malaysia Johor,Malaysia Selangor,Malaysia Kedah,Malaysia Pahang,Malaysia Malaysia Perak,Malaysia

Conclusions
Di Mana akan Ku Cari Ganti? translated as Where Can We Find Replacement? the song that was frequently aired on the local television and radio when Dr Mahathir stepped down as Prime Minister in 2003. Malaysians has lost a genuine leader who has the heart of the people (pemimpin berjiwa rakyat) who held the post of Prime Minister for more that two decades. His contributions to Malaysia cannot be tabulated on a paper, nor can it described in words because they are numerous and valuable. All the people of Malaysia are equally benefited from his political and economic policies that he has initiated for the country. Dr Mahathir has valuable spirits that should we younger generations should be modeled and remembered by Malaysians.

References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahathir bin Mohamad Mohamad Azizi Puteh, Yearbook 2002, Berita Pulishing Sdn Bhd(2002). Robin Adhshead, Mahathir of Malaysia: Statemen and Leaders, 2002. Faizal Yusup, Bicara Tentang Mahathir, (2004)Pekan Ilmu Publications Sdn Bhd Multimedia Super Corridor,(1998) Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn Bhd

6.

http://www.networkmalaysia.com/subtitle/people/Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Done by: 1. Rose Engol 2. Syla Liday 3. Victoria Steven 4. Jasmine Nicholas 5. Henryson Augustine 6. Bibiana George 7. Melta Beni 8. Priscellia Japon 9. Mourin Bt Inyu 10. Emmy Markus Posted by Rosemary Engol at 2:01 AM Labels: Assignments

No comments: Post a Comment Links to this post

Create a Link

Newer PostOlder PostHome

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Nuan diatu benong ba Ruai Indai Ben

Selamat datai ngagai Ruai Indai Ben. Terima kasih laban kita udah limpang lalu ngagai ruai aku kitu. Duduk meh dulu, ambi meh timpoh macha serta merati ka post ka bisi di kunsi aku ditu...

Facebook Badge
Rosemary Engol | Create Your Badge

IbanWiki About Me

Rosemary Engol Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Anak apai (Engol ak Batat, ari Tanu Layar, Betong) enggau indai (Senong ak Gedom) ari Semumok Atas, Betong) Ada kena 11hb 11, 1968 pukul 8.30 malam ba Maternity Clinic Betong, Saribas. Anak lumor dua ari 4 iko diri menyadi. Menggai pengarap Kristian Seventh-Day Adventist. Udah belaki, bisi 3 iko anak. View my complete profile

Blog Archive
2009 (10) o December (10) Dec 15 (2) Dec 19 (1) Dec 21 (1) Dec 24 (1) Dec 27 (2) Dec 29 (3) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Fourth Prime Minister of ... Hold a True Friend and Don't Let Go FEMALES MUST READ THIS!!! 2010 (30) 2011 (6) 2012 (12) 2013 (4)

Indai Ben

Maia sekula ba SAUC (Southeast Asia Union College), Singapore

Wedding (1988)

Groom: Pr Sim Nueng: Bride: Rosemary Engol; Wedding Minister: Pr Choo Wee Fong; Best Man: Pr Gibson Siaw(deceased); Bride's Maid: Noria Engol; Bible Boy: Samuel Ganchai; Flower Girl: Deburrah Petrus Ngadan.

Anak Tuai

Benjamin Gedom Sim (photo taken when he was 18 months old)

Anak Tuai (Eldest Son)

Benjamin G Sim (now 21 years old)

Anak Indu Lumor Dua (2nd Daughter)

Belinda Sara Sim (photo taken in Dec 2009) 14 Years old

Indai enggau Apai Ben

Followers

Hilton Kuching

Anak Indu Lumor Tiga (Third Daughter)

Benita Naomi Sim (photo taken in Dec 2009) Thirteen Years Old Watermark template. Powered by Blogger.