Dr. Mahathir’s stunning defeat of the ruling coalition means that at the age of 92, he will become the oldest elected leader in the world. Dr. Mahathir was the country’s authoritarian leader for 22 years until 2003.
KUALA LUMPUR: Mahathir Mohamad won a stunning victory in Malaysia’s election, ending the six-decade rule of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s party in a landmark shift for the Southeast Asian nation.
Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving premier who defected to the opposition to take on Najib, will return to power at the age of 92.
His four-party Pakatan Harapan alliance won at least 112 of 222 parliamentary seats. Najib and Prime Minister-elect Mahathir are expected to address the nation early Thursday.
And for the rest of the country, the party has already begun — May 10 and May 11 have already been declared public holidays in celebration of one of the most remarkable moments in Malaysia’s modern history.
Dr. Mahathir was credited with modernising Malaysia during his time as leader but was also known for his heavy-handed approach, which saw opponents imprisoned and courts subjugated.
The election results marked the first time the National Front had been voted out of power in the six decades since Malaysia gained independence from Britain.
