Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Part 3

Dr Mahathir

During the 1963 general election, Dr Mahathir was nominated as Barisan Nasional's candidate for a parlimentary seat in Kota Setar Selatan. After the votes were counted, it was the evidence that the voters of Kota Setar Selatan remembers the devotions and services that Dr Mahathir had given to his people. He won with a large majority. He celebrated his victory together with his voters by going around in his constituency in a beautiful decorated lorry to thank his supporters personally. Now, Dr Mahathir had the opportunity to voice out the difficulties of his people in the right forum.

Dr mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah

In 1964, he represents Malaysia for the world assembly of youth conference in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was elected as the Chariman of the Afro-Asian people's Solidarity organisation's commitee (AAPSO) for Malaysia. At the same year, Dr Mahathir was elected as UMNO's Supreme Council member. His way of not minding his words and kept voicing out his ideas to improve the well-being of bumiputra won him many personal supporters. Many foreign observers predicted that Dr Mahathir would one day play a major role of affairs for his country. Unfortunately, Dr Mahathir lost his seat in 1969 general election to PAS candidate.

After the May 13th, 1969 black incident, Dr Mahathir then write a letter of criticism to Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. The letter was circulated widely. Tunku have brought the issue to superme council meeting. The UMNO Supreme Council had to choose between him and Dr Mahathir. "Make your choice!! This party is just not big enough for the two of us!!" On September 26th, 1969, Dr Mahathir was expelled from UMNO. He accepted the failure as how he accepted his success. He went back to his medical pratice. He then continue to served for his people and he believed in himself and waited for an opportunity to try again.

Dr Mahathir resign as UMNO President




When Tun Abdul Razak replaced Tunku Abdul Rahman as Prime Minister on September 22nd, 1970, the efforts to bring back Dr Mahathir were made. Although Dr Mahathir wanted to get back into UMNO, there were some supreme council member who opposed Dr Mahathir's return to UMNO. On March 7th, 1972, Tun Dr Ismail (UMNO deputy president) accepted Dr Mahathir application to be a member of UMNO. Not long later Dr Mahathir was elected as UMNO supreme council member again. At the same year, he was appointed to the Higher Education Advisory Council. In 1973, he was nominated as Senator Ahli Dewan Negara. Later, he became Chairman of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia council. In 1974's general election, he won unopposed as the Member of Parliment for Kubang Pasu. This followed by appointment as Minister of Education on September 6th, 1974. DR MAHATHIR WAS THE FIRST MP TO BE APPOINTED A FULL MINISTER WITHOUT HOLDING THE POST OF DEPUTY MINISTER.



Tun Hussien Onn

On January 14th, 1976, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak passed away while being treated in London. He was succeeded by Tun Hussein Onn. Among the three potential candidates for the deputy prime minister post, Dr Mahathir was the most junior and had the smallest number of votes. He was shocked and pleasantly supprised when he was appointed for the post Deputy Prime Minister on March 5th, 1976. Because at that period, Tun Hussien Onn was not really in a good relationship with him, Dr Mahathir did not realise that Tun Abdul Razak admired his abilities and used to praised him when he was with Tun Hussein Onn..

To be continue....