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Dr Mahathir Mohamad
In 1947, Dr. Mahathir pursued his education
in medicine at the King Edward VII College of
Medicine, which later became part of the
University of Malaya, Singapore. He graduated
in 1952 with a Degree of Bachelor of Medicine
and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). He married
Siti Hasmah bt Ali on 5th August 1952 and
were blessed with seven children, four boys
and three girls.
Upon graduation, Dr. Mahathir spent his
housemanship at the General Hospital, Pulai
Pinang, and was appointed Medical Officer,
General Hospital, Alor Setar; and at District
Hospital, Langkawi, Jitra and Perlis. In
1957, together with Siti Hasmah, they became
the first Malay doctors to open up a private
clinic in Kedah.
The unstable political environment during the
colonial days in the then Federation of
Malaya moulded Dr. Mahathir as a thinker.
Poverty and backwardness of the masses during
World War II and the Japanese occupation
strengthened his desire and commitment to be
champion of the cause. Even during his school
days, he had the voice of a patriot. Dr.
Mahathir realized that political weakness
will not bring about changes. His
determination to free his motherland from
colonial domination led him to participate in
SABERKAS Youth Movement, and became active in
politics. In 1945, he joined the Kedah Malay
Youth Movement (Kesatuan Melayu Mudah Kedah),
and when UMNO was formed in 1946, he joined
the party as one of the early pioneers.
In the 1964 General election, Dr. Mahathir
was selected to contest on and an Alliance
ticket and won the Parliamentary seat of Kota
Selatan. Luck was not with him when he lost
the same seat in the 1969 General Election.
After the 13th May 1969 incident, Dr.
Mahathir was expelled from the party.
However, when Tun Abdul Razak replaced Tunku
Abdul Rahman as President of UMNO and as
Prime Minister, he was readmitted into UMNO
in early 1972. He was appointed a Senator in
1973, and in the 1974 General Election, he
contested and won unopposed the Kubang Pasu
Parliamentary seat. On 6th October 1974, Dr.
Mahathir was appointed Minister of Education.
When Tun Abdul Razak passed away in 1975 and
Dato? Husein Onn took over the Premiership,
he appointed Dr. Mahathir as Deputy Prime
Minister, besides holding his Education
portfolio. Dr. Mahathir was then one of the
three UMNO Vice-Presidents
On 16th July 1981, Dr. Mahathir was appointed
the fourth Prime Minister replacing Dato?
Hussein Onn, who resigned on account of
ill-health. The following year, he won the
UMNO Presidency in the UMNO General Assembly.
Since the 1982 General Election, he
successively won the Parliamentary seat of
Kubang Pasu.
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