Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad loses seat in shock defeat

20 November 2022 08:01 am - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has lost his parliamentary seat in Saturday’s general elections, likely ending the career of one of Asia’s most enduring politicians.

Mahathir came in fourth in a five-way fight in his long-held constituency in the holiday resort island of Langkawi, the country’s election commission said on Saturday.

“It’s a major surprise that not only has he [Mahathir] lost, but he has lost in a spectacular fashion,” Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, reporting from outside of Kuala Lumpur, said.

“He has not only lost his seat but has lost his deposit because he has not been able to get more than an eighth of votes cast. His party has also not managed to win a single seat.”

It was the 97-year-old’s first electoral defeat in more than half a century. He served as Malaysia’s prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003.

He returned to politics two years ago in the wake of the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB. Mahathir held the Guinness World Record for being the “world’s oldest current prime minister” when he became prime minister in 2018, just two months shy of his 93rd birthday.

Visibly slowed by age but still looking healthy, Mahathir ran this time around under his own Homeland Fighters’ Party and had laughed off suggestions he should retire, telling reporters before the election that he had a “good chance” of winning.

“I’m still standing around and talking to you, I think, making reasonable answers,” Mahathir said.

He added his party would not form any alliances with parties that are led by “crooks or jailbirds” – an apparent reference to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party of jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan Nasional coalition – which is dominated by his UMNO party – lost ground to rival alliances led by former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

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Comments - 26

Ane Hondai Sunday, 20 November 2022 08:18 AM

If voters had made him an MP, it would be clear that the old is valued more than the young - a disgrace for that country. With all his racist policy - including affecting my distant relative who live in Malaysia in before world war one, I hope that the Mahathir Mohamad dies soon. Pleased the people in the seat have finally realised he's well past retirement/use by date now.

Nadaraja Sunday, 20 November 2022 08:26 AM

When Britain ruled Malaya which is the present day Malaysia and Singapore, the British felt that Malaysians to be lazy and of low intelligence. So the British recruited the Jaffna Tamils to do the “office work” and took them to Malaysia and Singapore to run the Civil Service, Schools, Railways, and to Manage Rubber Estates. At the beginning of the last century the Jaffna Tamils were Civil Servants, School Teachers , Primary School Head Masters, and Rubber Estate Superintendents. On the lower level Tamils worked as Railway Guards and Station Masters.

Ane Hondai Monday, 21 November 2022 10:14 AM

You got relative in Malaysia or just talking up for Jaffna Tamils of long ago? You know how Tamil person considered in Singapore and Malaysia now? You been to those countries to see how it is for the Tamil there now?

Kumar Sunday, 20 November 2022 08:26 AM

If he was in Sri Lanka, he could have become the prime minister or the president. At least he could be a MP.

CitizenP Sunday, 20 November 2022 08:41 AM

Majority of Malaysian people are taking right decision at right time....It proves that Mahathir is a unsuitable person to be a Politician...

Jude Sunday, 20 November 2022 09:45 AM

However Mahathir made Malaysia Newly Industrialized country!! Country was developed highly under his leadership!!

William Sunday, 20 November 2022 09:52 AM

Sorry ex-PM nothing new. Take as an example Sri Lanka. The only difference is the age.

D T Sunday, 20 November 2022 09:56 AM

He was the only leader from Asia to have understood how the white countries exploit the Asian countries.

Ceylonese Sunday, 20 November 2022 10:01 AM

Probably the intelligent citizens realized that he could not serve the country anymore, Sri Lankas need to become intelligent first so they will realize this.

Mjsa Sunday, 20 November 2022 10:28 AM

There is a limit for everything. Yes the age limit.

Punchi Sunday, 20 November 2022 10:49 AM

On his application to study medicine which is supposedly in the possession of the sultan of Johor he wrote that his ethnicity was Indian, his father was from Kerala. He did something good in developing Malaysia to its current status and empowered many Ceylon Tamils including Ananda Krishna the founder owner of oil company Petronas

DPerera Sunday, 20 November 2022 03:36 PM

Petronas oil company was founded by Malaysian government, not by Ananda Krishnan

Punchi Monday, 21 November 2022 06:02 AM

Yes correct Petronas was founded by the Malaysian government. I got confused one of my Malaysian contacts would for some reason constantly say that Malaysia’s 3 richest man Ceylon Tamil Ananda Krishnan got his first break from oil consignments from former OPEC head Sheik Yamani

Sri Sunday, 20 November 2022 12:29 PM

It is as if Mahinda is beaten in his election here in Sri Lanka..same will happen to Mahinda too ..people are not fool now . When time comes they must retire with respect..why waiting to disgrace them like this . People teach old Mahinda same thing here too

Neel Monday, 21 November 2022 12:45 PM

Yes, indeed if our people good enough to mature to get the right decisions in correct time. Unfortunately our people are so far not matures in politics.

Sunil Gamage Sunday, 20 November 2022 12:59 PM

This is a good reminder to old politicians especially in Sri Lanka. What ever said and done It is Mahathir who understood the situation of the country at that time framed good policies and led the country towards development from the front. At this very old age his services are no more required by the citizens. That is a right decision to keep him away from politics since he is not energetic as those days.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Sunday, 20 November 2022 03:01 PM

Malaysians are wise to reject a 97 old Mahathhir ,since no one can serve the people at this age, Sri Lankans were fooled throughout but not Malasians, Sinhala only bill was a worst nail on Srilankans fate.

Colonial rulers' policy Sunday, 20 November 2022 03:33 PM

Has Mahathir amassed billions of $ in his long career in politics? Does he own a private jet? Has he built up a dynasty of his brothers, sons, cousins and relatives, using more than 75@ of nation's budget allocation? Has Mahathir or his sons gone around to find virgins for their sexual needs? I am just curious to find, how true are some comments appearing here. Why did the Dutch and the British imported Malays for the police and armed forces in Ceylon at the same time? Did they find that the locals were not mentally an physically fit to hold high pots in security of Ceylon! Or is it to simply uproot and disturb the citizens of the colony?

Tony Sunday, 20 November 2022 04:10 PM

He can be the President now.

Neel Johnson Monday, 21 November 2022 06:10 PM

Yes, as per our consultation any one rejected by the people can become a Prisdent of the family. It's Srilanka anything can happened with the blessings of old greedy politicians

Mandayan Monday, 21 November 2022 04:09 AM

In a commonwealth annual conference, he declared and made the queen bit embarrassed: We are in the ‘Commonwealth where the wealth is not Common’. Great leader with vision and made sure Malaysia is a developed country. Retire in peace!!

bipin Monday, 21 November 2022 05:14 AM

Whatever he may have done for Malaysia but he was dictatorial and an anti-Hindu. He was forcefully converting Hindu Government Employees. His anti-Hindu actions brought Hindus at the lowest level of the society. I remember once an Australian Governor General commented that the Indian in Malaysia are in tatters. This raised tension between him and Australia.

Ali baba Monday, 21 November 2022 07:35 AM

He is actually better than anyone here and would be good to have him support the Parliament. He could be SL consultant for the Parliament!

Sammy Monday, 21 November 2022 09:39 AM

No confidence in such an advanced age. Should have retired from politics gracefully. Fresh blood is needed, anywhere. Besides, good riddance of a communalist, though he had contributed to Malaysia's development.

Just the opposite of SL Leaders. Monday, 21 November 2022 11:43 AM

Sad thing that happened to a world acknowledged great Leader.

Punchi Monday, 21 November 2022 12:07 PM

@ane hondi, Mahathir once said that if he gave a million dollars to a Malay, the Malay would use the money to buy a Ferrari, to a Chinese - he would look at using the money to develop a business and an Indian would use the money to educate his child to become a doctor. I know of many Ceylon Tamil descent households in Malaysia employing Shinhala maids. Many working there illegally.

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Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad loses seat in shock defeat

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