
Thu Jul 10 13:55:38 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad celebrated his 100th birthday, expressing surprise and continuing his active work life. He reflected on his career, Malaysia’s history, and global issues during a live podcast. Known for his transformative leadership, he served two terms as Prime Minister. Despite his age and a history of heart disease, Mohamad remains mentally and physically active, attributing his longevity to a healthy lifestyle and staying engaged. He also discussed key moments in Malaysia’s history, voiced solidarity with the Palestinian people and spoke about the rise of China. While his career has been marked by both modernization and controversy, he emphasizes the importance of remaining active and contributing.
**News Article:**
**Mahathir Mohamad Turns 100, Reflects on Life and Politics**
**KUALA LUMPUR, July 10, 2025** – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad marked his 100th birthday on Thursday, celebrating the milestone with a special live podcast and a return to work at his office. Describing the moment as “quite frightening,” the centenarian showed no signs of slowing down.
Mohamad, who served as Malaysia’s fourth and seventh prime minister, reflected on his transformative leadership, which included modernizing the Malaysian economy and navigating periods of political turbulence.
In his podcast, he discussed Malaysia’s history, global affairs, including the Palestinian issue and China’s rise, and his approach to aging. He attributes his longevity to maintaining an active lifestyle and remaining mentally engaged. “So long as I can function, I want to function. I want to behave almost as if I am not getting old,” Mohamad stated.
Despite a history of heart disease, Mohamad remains committed to contributing. Though there was no grand celebration, staff presented him with a small cake at his office before he declared, “Ok, back to work!” Mohamad’s milestone comes after a career marked by both significant progress and political controversy, solidifying his place as a pivotal figure in Malaysian history.