Malaysia’s Mahathir ‘doesn’t care’ about ‘dictator’ label as he reflects on his legacy
In an interview, the former prime minister reveals that he and his ex-protege, Anwar Ibrahim, clashed over their views on corruption
“I’m always being asked what is my legacy. I don’t care about it. They may identify me as a dictator, that is their right,” the 100-year-old says in My Name is Mahathir.
“From the very beginning, I decided that I don’t care what people think about me as long as I am doing the right thing,” added Mahathir, who transformed Malaysia from an agrarian-based economy into a manufacturing powerhouse.
The 65-minute film about the country’s longest-serving prime minister, who remained in power for more than 24 years, won a silver medal for documentaries at a media festival in Germany last week.
Mahathir acknowledged the impossibility of weeding out corruption – an issue that drove a wedge between him and his deputy Anwar in the 1990s and ultimately led to the younger politician’s sacking.