Back then, i always wonder why people or adults love to talk about famous people. They spent hours talking about it as if they were close friend to that famous person. I really had no interest to listen to that kind of story. During secondary school, my dad used to tell me story about Zig Ziglar, one of the famous speaker in US, how he live his dream, the determination and hard works he pours to gain excellent. I remember all that but maybe due to immaturity i chose to neglect and the spirit and motivational was not embedded within me.
In University, I was passive and always try to avoid taking part in any occasion or activity. The main reason was i do not want people to elect me as head of any programme for i am not active in social or group activity. Fortunately, my shell had been broken when i, for the first time involved in Career Fair held by the university. I was one of the protocol bureaus and at that time i found it hard to perform my work when i did not have any experience in leading any activity. At that time i realized leadership skill is important and crucial.
When i joined government as an officer, i need to lead my subordinates who are of course varies in personalities with different characteristic. Thus and again, leadership comes into the picture. The person i admire the most besides my dad is Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, our 4th Prime Minister. Indeed, he has given me a lot to ponder about and indirectly affect my life for his outstanding achievement although he came from a poor family.
Mahathir bin Mohamad was born on December 20, 1925 in Alor Setar, Kedah. At a young age, Mahathir had dealt with fresh fruits and cendol in a small market called Pekan Rabu in Kedah. Mahathir was a hard-working school student. Discipline imposed by his father motivated him to study, and he showed little interest in sports. He won a position in a selective English medium secondary school, having become fluent in English well ahead of his primary school peers. With schools closed during the Japanese occupation of Malaya in World War II, he went into small business, first selling coffee and later pisang goreng (banana fritters) and other snacks. After the war, he graduated from secondary school with high marks and enrolled to study medicine at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. In college he met his future wife, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a fellow medical student. After Mahathir graduated, he worked as a doctor in government service before marrying Siti Hasmah in 1956 and returning to Alor Setar the following year to set up his own practice. He was the town's first Malay doctor, and a successful one.
Mahathir had been politically active since the end of the Japanese occupation of Malaya, when he joined protests against the granting of citizenship to non-Malays under the short-lived Malayan Union. He later argued for affirmative action for Malays at medical college. While at college he contributed to The Straits Times under the pseudonym "C.H.E. Det", and a student journal, in which he fiercely promoted Malay rights, such as restoring Malay as an official language. While practising as a doctor in Alor Setar, Mahathir became active in UMNO; by the time of the first general election for the independent state of Malaya in 1959, he was the chairman of the party in Kedah. After years and years of political involvement, winning the people’s heart and votes, Mahathir was sworn in as Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 July 1981, at the age of 56.
During his time as a Prime Minister, he introduced the concept of Malaysia Incorporated which the country is assumed as a company, and the people are employees and shareholders. This concept was adapted from the Japanese, who have given a greater role to the private sector to drive the country towards progress. This concept has further increased job performance, income, and the country's image. Mahathir also increases Bumiputera’s participation in the ownership of shares and trading enterprise sector with the establishment of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and Amanah Saham Nasional and Amanah Saham Bumiputera. After several years of implementing the New Economic Policy after several years, Mahathir thought it would be very difficult to achieve the target of 30% Bumiputera share ownership in the economy. Subsequently, it has urged the government to establish trust and establish a variety of companies- Goverment Link Companies (GLCs) to increase the total number of Bumiputera participate in the business.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Steve Jobs
As for me, Mahathir is a thinker and revolutionary. He is ambitious, unique and full of motivation. He wanted to change people mentally and physically. Mahathir wants Malaysia to be known throughout the whole world.
One of great approach was to make Malaysia a fully developed nation by 2020. Vision 2020 is an expression of ambition. Like an artist, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad has introduced a noble philosophy which is then followed by continuous implementation. The goal is to develop the nation with balanced environment.
“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”
John Maxwell
Since his appointment as Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad was never tired of introducing changes. First step after becoming prime minister was to streamline the government machinery to move the 'Clean - Efficient - Trust' and 'Leadership by example' to inculcate moral values and ethical accountability among civil servants in particular and society in general. He also introduced the use of punch cards and wearing of name tags to the civil servants.
He introduced the 'Look East Policy' to make the work culture of Japan and Korea as something that should be emulated by Malaysian people in order to increase productivity and instil a professional work ethic.
Among the key elements in the Eastward Look Policy is to see how Japan and Korea can become a developed nation and a leader in a variety of global industries. Moving forward, he initiated the privatization program began in 1983 as an effort to see the important role of the private sector. He also saw some parties in the government sector should be privatized in order to be managed professionally and profitably and to reduce the financial burden of government in generating development projects. Privatizations of government entities were also implemented to so that they can be more efficient. Privatization of the service industry has also been introduced to enhance the quality of public services to be more comfortable facilities. In line with the policy of his show 'Dasar Pengsyarikatan Malaysia’ which aims to generate cooperation between public and private sectors so that they work as partners in the nation development.
To become one of the well develop country, Mahathir wants Malaysia to be involved in the motor industry so that the people of this country can master the technology and create a new business in this industry. This policy resulted a few years after that with the reveal of 'Proton Saga', Malaysia first car in 1985. Furthermore, Malaysia is also the hub assembly of many famous car brands for Southeast Asia such as Nissan, Toyota and Honda.
In 1997, Mahathir introduced the "Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) which made Malaysia a centre of investment and infrastructure development experiments in the world of multimedia. As a result, ‘Cyberjaya’ was built in the hope that the MSC will be the only cyber-world city. Mahathir not only working to develop Malaysia but he was also working to develop the other third world countries. No matter what ideas - developing countries, third world countries, small countries or poor countries - he bravely voicing their problems in international forums and slammed the developed countries that are not sincere help but suppress with prejudice.
Mahathir is regarded as a successful world leader despite leading a small country. He not only succeeded in freeing his country from all angles, but tries to liberate other nations from the shackles of a development philosophy that clearly generated from the west which is impractical. Mahathir believes development philosophy should be generated from within the nation itself, while the source may come from outside and not vice versa.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a respected leader and was often referred for opinion among developing countries. He was regarded as the spokesman for the developing countries to discuss or argue on the policies outlined by Western political superpower. He carried the hope to pave the way towards a leadership role in international economic and political world. Moreover, Mahathir was very robust and firm in criticizing the Western countries on their mislead fight against terrorism.
"Who are the terrorists? The people below who were bombed or the bombers? Whose rights have been snatched away?"
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at Suhakam's Human Rights Conference
9 September 2005
"How can we claim to be civilised when we condone and legalise mass killings of men, women and children, the old and the sick as a solution to conflicts between nations?"
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at Imperial College, London
25 April 2008
He is indeed a great leader up until now and his leadership will continue to be remembered by Malaysians. Long live Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad. Your contributions will always remain live and green sir.
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