Democracy failed, modern civilisation collapsed, says former Malaysian PM on 100th birthday

Mahathir Mohamad has spent more than half of his life in politics and public service. In his case – starting Thursday, when he marks his centennial birthday – that means more than 50 years in and out of Malaysian and international corridors of power.

A world leader reaching their 100th birthday is a rare milestone, making their insights particularly valuable. As Mahathir shared his in an interview with Anadolu, the conversation inevitably turned to the worldview of a person who has seen global politics and political systems evolve over a century.

As a two-time prime minister, Mahathir has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of democracy in Malaysia, yet his take on it is sharp and skeptical.

“Democracy is an invention by man and it is not perfect. You need to know how to use it, if you want to get the best out of it,” he said.

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Drawing from his personal experience, Mahathir criticized multi-party systems, advocating instead for simplicity.

“In a democracy, there should be only two parties. When two parties contest each other, one or the other can win, then you can have a strong government,” he asserted.

“But because everybody wants to become the leader, and people are broken up into small groups, they cannot achieve the kind of majority needed to form government. So, in many instances, democracy has failed.”

On the wider geopolitical realities of today, Mahathir singled out Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza as a significant moment, criticizing global powers, especially the West, for what he sees as moral failure.

“Normally, it should be that when you see such injustice, like genocide (in Gaza), you must do something to stop it. But here, we are unable to stop it because behind the genocide is America – a great power,” he said.

“America threatens to take action against anybody who tries to prevent the genocide. So, this is a collapse of the civilization of the West.”

He lamented the loss of “good and moral values,” saying their actions have fallen to the point where they “are actually considered uncivilized.”

“Civilization, our modern civilization, has failed. In fact, I would say we have gone back to becoming very primitive with our civilized values.”

Regarding the US role in Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, Mahathir argued that Washington has “lost credibility” as a global leader.

“Today, we know that the US does not care about human rights, about human lives even, and that it is not a model for the rest of the world,” he stated firmly.

Political journey and vision

Mahathir was born on July 10, 1925, in Lorong Kilang Ais, Alor Setar, the capital of today’s Malaysian state of Kedah, then a British protectorate.

He became a doctor but soon found himself deeply involved in politics, joining the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) at the young age of 21.

After practicing medicine in Kedah for seven years, Mahathir entered the Malaysian parliament in 1964, just seven years after the nation had gained independence from British colonial rule. From then on, despite several setbacks, he never looked back.

“Tun,” as he is affectionately known after receiving Malaysia’s highest federal honorific title, became prime minister in 1981, serving nearly 22 years. Under his watch, Malaysia transformed into a beacon of economic growth and development in Southeast Asia.

When asked whether his senior colleagues had made the right decision choosing him 45 years ago, Mahathir smiled confidently and replied, “Yes.”

He made a surprising return to power in 2018 but stepped down two years later after losing support from allies.

“If given an opportunity, can we all become rich? That influenced my thinking,” Mahathir reflected, recalling his youthful aspirations during a virtual conversation from his office, where he was busy sorting through archives.

“After we became independent, I had some ideas. I applied those ideas, and fortunately, I obtained some results – we were able to enrich our country,” said the veteran politician.

“I had never expected to become the prime minister of Malaysia, but it so happens that I was there at the right time. There was a need to find a leader and I was chosen,” he added.

‘I keep my mind active’

Asked about his secret to longevity, Mahathir, whose relentless work ethic has earned him admiration worldwide, humbly shrugged it off.

“I really don’t know. I suppose if you are fortunate enough not to suffer from fatal diseases, then you should be able to live a long time,” he said, advising people against overeating.

“I do some exercise ... I exercise my mind, my brain, through reading, writing, talking, discussion, debates … I keep my mind active,” he added. “I believe that you have to keep your body and mind active if you want to be able to continue to function well.”

Mahathir also credits his wife, Siti Hasmah, 98, for her unwavering support throughout his long journey.

“My wife has always been with me. She is not just a wife, but actually a companion, a friend,” he said fondly. “She supports my activities.”

He also advised against idleness. “If you are observant, you see many things, you will go through many experiences, and you learn from the things you see, from the experiences that you have,” he explained.

“And when you are faced with a problem, you go back to your experience to find out how to deal with it.”

Future of Malaysia and the Muslim world

For Malaysia to achieve its ambitions, Mahathir emphasized that the economy must be “well-managed” and the country “politically stable.”

Citizens must be educated “to do necessary things to make a success of the country,” he added.

Commenting on Malaysia’s diverse society, he stressed that leaders “have to deal with different races and understand their needs.”

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Turning to the wider Muslim world, Mahathir lamented disunity, particularly on crucial issues such as Palestine.

“Unfortunately, the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) has not been able to function because the OIC depends on consensus. Everybody must agree before anything can be done. Even if one country disagrees, then you cannot do anything,” he explained.

“So, the OIC has not been able to perform at all because there will always be some disagreement over what to do – even in the case of Israel,” he said.

Reflecting on his legacy, Mahathir declined to judge his own achievements, leaving that to history.

“It’s up to other people to think of what I have done,” he said modestly. “I find that working for my country is very satisfying.”