1925- . Prime minister of Malaysia from 1981
and leader of the United Malays' National
Organization (UMNO). His `look east' economic
policy emulates Japanese industrialization.
Mahathir bin Mohamad was elected to the House
of Representatives 1964 and gained the
support of the dominant UMNO's radical youth
wing as an advocate of economic help to
bumiputras (ethnic Malays) and as a proponent
of a more Islamic social policy. Dr Mahathir
held a number of ministerial posts from 1974
before being appointed prime minister and
UMNO leader in 1981. He was re-elected 1986,
but has alienated sections of UMNO by his
authoritarian leadership.