Putrajaya, Malaysia – Celebrating his 100th birthday earlier this year, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad maintained his lifelong regimen of discipline: modest eating, relentless work, and a refusal to yield to rest.
“My priority is to keep working constantly. I don’t allow myself to rest,” Mahathir shared in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“Keeping both your mind and body engaged is essential for longevity,” he added.
From his home office in Putrajaya, just south of Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir spent his centennial day much like any other-drafting reflections on Malaysia’s economic landscape, the nation’s political dynamics, and pressing global issues, with a particular focus on the crisis unfolding in Gaza.
After recovering from a brief period of fatigue around his birthday, Mahathir spoke candidly about the brutal actions of Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, predicting that the atrocities would be remembered in history for generations to come.
He highlighted the staggering death toll of nearly 66,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, emphasizing that such devastation would leave an indelible mark on collective memory.
“The situation in Gaza is horrific. Pregnant women, newborns, young boys and girls, men and women, the ill and impoverished-they have all been victims. How could the world ever forget this?” he questioned.
“This will be remembered for centuries, without a doubt,” Mahathir affirmed.
He likened the Gaza conflict to genocides of the past, such as the massacre of Muslims during the Bosnian war in the 1990s and the Holocaust inflicted on Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II. Mahathir expressed his bewilderment that a people who endured genocide could, in turn, commit such acts themselves.
“I believed that those who suffered such horrors would never wish the same fate upon others,” he reflected. “Victims of genocide should not desire others to endure similar suffering.”
Yet, in Israel’s case, he admitted his expectations were mistaken.
During his tenure in the 1980s and 1990s, Mahathir was renowned globally as a forthright advocate for the Global South and a fierce critic of Western imperialism, particularly condemning the exploitation of developing nations through financial mechanisms.
While a passionate defender of Palestinian rights, Mahathir faced accusations of anti-Semitism due to his outspoken critiques of Western powers, especially the United States.
Nonetheless, he recounted his profound empathy for Jewish suffering upon learning of the Nazi atrocities after World War II.
“The Israelis have failed to learn from their own painful history,” he stated. “They seek to replicate the suffering they endured onto the Arab population.”
Mahathir emphasized that the only viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the establishment of two independent states. Although recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood by countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have provided momentum, he remains skeptical about its near-term realization.
“It won’t happen within my lifetime; the timeframe is simply too short,” he concluded.
China’s Rise: The World’s Emerging Leader
Having survived three heart attacks and orchestrated a remarkable political resurgence in his 90s, Mahathir’s combined 24 years in office make him Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.
Born on July 10, 1925, in Kedah, northern Malaysia, during the reign of King George V, Mahathir witnessed Malaysia’s transformation from a British colony known as Malaya to a thriving independent nation.
He entered the political arena in the 1960s, serving as prime minister from 1981 until his initial retirement in 2003. Defying expectations, he returned to power in 2018 at age 92, leading a coalition that unseated the long-dominant Barisan Nasional party, becoming the world’s oldest head of government.
His final resignation came in 2020 amid internal party conflicts within Bersatu.
Trained as a medical doctor, Mahathir’s legacy includes laying the groundwork for Malaysia’s shift from an agrarian economy to an industrial powerhouse, symbolized by landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Even at 100, Mahathir remains intellectually vigorous, outspoken, and engaged in public discourse.
He shared vivid memories of China during the 1970s, describing it as a nation with limited wealth and scarce automobiles. During a visit as Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, he was chauffeured in China’s early domestically produced “Red Flag” car, a symbol of the country’s nascent industrial capabilities.
Today, China’s economy and automotive industry have surged ahead, especially in electric vehicles, challenging Western manufacturers.
Mahathir predicts China will surpass the United States as the world’s leading power within a decade, driven by its vast population, expansive domestic market, and industrious citizens.
“China’s market alone exceeds that of Europe and America combined. The Chinese are astute in business,” he remarked, recalling how early Chinese immigrants in Malaysia undertook arduous labor to elevate their families’ socioeconomic status within a few generations.
The Future of America’s Global Standing
Contrasting China’s ascent with the United States under Donald Trump’s administration, Mahathir criticized the “tariff war” policies as detrimental, arguing that efforts to repatriate manufacturing would inflate costs and inadvertently accelerate China’s dominance.
“Trump’s push to relocate factories to America faces challenges: high wages and a work ethic that differs significantly from Chinese laborers, who can endure long hours,” he explained.
“American workers are unlikely to match that level of endurance, making domestic production more expensive,” he added.
Mahathir also noted that the logistical and temporal demands of reshoring manufacturing-estimated between three to eight years-would outlast Trump’s presidency.
“Trump won’t remain president beyond three years, so his economic vision is unlikely to materialize,” he concluded.
Despite his centenarian status, Mahathir remains physically active, walking unaided, exercising daily, maintaining a work routine, and welcoming visitors.
He embraces modern technology, including social media, and continues to travel internationally when invited as a speaker.
His secret to a long life? Staying mentally and physically engaged and practicing moderation in eating.
“Don’t overindulge,” he advised. “My mother’s wisdom was, ‘When the food tastes good, stop eating.'”
