Mahathir bin Muhammad

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Malaysian politician, prime minister 1981–2003. Leader of the New United Malays' National Organization (UMNO Baru), his ‘look east’ economic policy, which emulated Japanese industrialization, met with considerable success, but faced its first serious challenge in 1997 when the Malaysian currency came under attack from international speculators. This forced austerity measures in 1998, including the repatriation of many foreign workers. He stepped down as prime minister in October 2003.

He was re-elected prime minister 1986, but alienated sections of UMNO by his authoritarian leadership and from 1988 led a reconstituted UMNO Baru (New UMNO). In 1994 he temporarily suspended all forthcoming trade deals with the UK after allegations in the British press that aid for Malaysia's Pergau dam had been given in exchange for an arms contract in 1988. In 1998 his deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who was emerging as a rival, was controversially sacked for alleged corruption and sexual misconduct and found guilty and imprisoned a year later.

The blue band is lighter than that of the Dutch tricolour. Effective date: 16 August 1972. >>