Malaysia faces new crisis as poll delivers hung Parliament
November 19, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia tumbled into fresh political turmoil Sunday after a tightly contested general election delivered a hung Parliament with no clear winner and a surprising surge of support for an Islamist party.
At 97, Malaysia’s Mahathir makes last election hurrah
November 16, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — When two-time former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he wanted to earn his “work till death” title, he wasn’t joking.
At 97, Mahathir is back again in the election race as the head of a new ethnic Malay alliance that he calls a “movement of the people." He hopes his bloc could gain enough seats in Saturday's polls to be a powerbroker.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar hopeful of election win
October 13, 2022 GMTPETALING JAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday he was optimistic that his alliance can achieve a simple majority in general elections expected to be held next month, despite the odds stacked against them.
Malaysia’s Mahathir, 97, to run in general elections
October 11, 2022 GMTPUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad announced Tuesday he will defend his seat in the general elections expected next month, though he wouldn't say whether he would be prime minister a third time if his political alliance wins.
Malaysia’s Anwar: Opposition has ‘fair chance’ to win polls
September 22, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday he believes his three-party alliance has a “fair chance” of winning a general election that could be called as early as November.
Ex-Malaysian leader Mahathir, 97, hospitalized with COVID-19
August 31, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 97, was hospitalized Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19, his office said.
“Mahathir has been admitted to the National Heart Institute for observation for a few days as advised by the medical team,” it said in a statement.
Malaysia’s Mahathir says US seeking to provoke war in Taiwan
August 19, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday accused the U.S. of trying to provoke a war in Taiwan, and in a wide-ranging interview also said he expects Malaysia’s graft-tainted ruling party to hold general elections in the coming months.
Ex-Malaysia PM: US-led trade group intended to isolate China
May 27, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticized a new U.S.-led economic grouping on Friday, saying it is intended to isolate China, and won't benefit regional economic growth without Beijing.
Malaysia’s ex-PM Mahathir discharged from heart hospital
February 5, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was discharged Saturday from the National Heart Institute two weeks after he was admitted and will recuperate at home, the hospital said.
Malaysia’s ex-PM Mahathir on road to recovery in hospital
January 26, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is recovering after being hospitalized for the third time since December and is eager to get back on his feet, his daughter said Wednesday.
Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir, 96, stable in hospital: daughter
January 22, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was hospitalized for the third time in just over a month but his condition is stable, his daughter said Saturday.
The 96-year-old two-time former premier, once the world’s oldest leader, was admitted to the National Heart Institute on Thursday and was responding well to treatment, Marina Mahathir said in a statement.
Malaysia ex-PM Najib defends asking for $24M property gift
November 19, 2021 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A surprising disclosure in Malaysian Parliament that former Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked to be given a house and land estimated to be worth 100 million ringgit ($24 million) despite his graft conviction has sparked fierce reactions.
A timeline of events leading to Malaysian PM’s resignation
August 16, 2021 GMTA timeline of the political turmoil that led to Monday's resignation of embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin:
Feb 24, 2020: A reformist ruling alliance collapses after more than 35 lawmakers withdraw their support, led by Muhyiddin's Bersatu party.
Malaysian king holds unusual meetings with political leaders
June 10, 2021 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's king is holding consultations with political leaders, including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, amid public concern over a sharp spike in coronavirus cases that has led to a second nationwide lockdown.
Malaysian opposition urges king to end coronavirus emergency
April 20, 2021 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian opposition lawmakers led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad submitted a petition to the country's king on Tuesday seeking an end to a coronavirus emergency so Parliament can resume...
Mahathir says remarks on French attacks taken out of context
October 31, 2020 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad stood by his widely condemned comments on attacks by Muslim extremists in France, saying Friday that they were taken out of context and criticizing Twitter and Facebook for removing his posts...
Race to form Malaysia gov’t heats up, with eyes on Mahathir
February 25, 2020 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — After resisting pressure for months to hand over Malaysia's leadership to his designated successor, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad finally quit this week. But in a confounding twist, the 94-year-old leader emerged more powerful than before, while his ruling alliance, which won a historic vote nearly two years ago, met its Waterloo.
Asian shares extend losses after Dow drops more than 1,000
February 25, 2020 GMTShares are mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday after Wall Street suffered its worst session in two years, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumping more than 1,000 points on fears that a viral outbreak that began in China will weaken the world economy...
Malaysian king accepts Mahathir’s resignation amid upheaval
February 24, 2020 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's king on Monday accepted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's shocking resignation but reappointed him as interim leader following the collapse of the ruling alliance in a major political upheaval less than two years after its historic election victory...
Mahathir: Islamic conference in KL to tackle Islamophobia
December 18, 2019 GMTKUALA LUMPUR (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday an Islamic conference that includes leaders from Iran, Turkey and Qatar is aimed at tackling Islamophobia and finding solutions to challenges facing the Muslim world...
ASEAN meeting grapples with trade war, territorial disputes
November 2, 2019 GMTNONTHABURI, Thailand (AP) — Southeast Asia should use the sway of its shared market of 650 million people and speak with "one voice" to ensure it is treated fairly in an age of protectionism, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday as leaders gathered for a regional summit...
Asian victors may find anti-China campaign vows hard to keep
September 26, 2018 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — Three Muslim-majority Asian countries have elected leaders who campaigned on a promise to temper China's growing influence, but analysts say reducing the foothold of the world's second-largest economy won't be easy because of the billions of dollars in development projects that are already under way...
AP Interview: Malaysia’s Mahathir aims to scrap China deals
August 13, 2018 GMTPUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia is looking to cancel multibillion-dollar Chinese-backed infrastructure projects signed by the previous scandal-tainted government as it digs itself out of debt, Malaysia's prime minister said Monday during an extensive interview in which he also blasted Myanmar's treatment of Rohingya Muslims as "grossly unjust...
Mahathir bars predecessor from leaving Malaysia amid probe
May 13, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's new leader, Mahathir Mohamad, said he barred his scandal-tainted predecessor and his wife from leaving the country to prevent them from fleeing from possible prosecution over a massive corruption scandal...
Malaysia bars scandal-ridden ex-leader from leaving country
May 12, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's new leader, Mahathir Mohamad, said Saturday that defeated scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife have been barred from leaving the country to prevent them from fleeing from possible prosecution over a massive corruption scandal.
Is 92 too old to lead? Malaysia’s Mahathir doesn’t think so
May 11, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The longtime strongman was born when silent films still packed movie theaters and Adolf Hitler was still a fringe politician...
Ex-strongman seeks legacy as savior of Malaysia’s democracy
May 11, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Known as an authoritarian leader who ruthlessly persecuted his foes and stifled dissent, Mahathir Mohamad was an unlikely choice to steer Malaysia on a more democratic path...
Mahathir Malaysia’s leader again after ruling party booted
May 11, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, cementing a stunning political comeback and a historic change in government after leading opposition parties to their first election victory in six decades...
Opposition win ends Malaysia party’s 60-year hold on power
May 9, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — An alliance of Malaysian opposition parties led by the country's 92-year-old former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad won a fiercely contested general election, ending the 60-year rule of the Malay-dominated National Front...
Malaysian election pits former leader against elite protege
May 8, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Voters have a stark choice in Malaysia's election on Wednesday: resurrect the country's 92-year-old former authoritarian leader or give a third term to Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose alleged role in the multibillion-dollar ransacking of a state investment fund has battered Malaysia's standing abroad...
AP PHOTOS: Political career of Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad
May 3, 2018 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir Mohamad has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power.
AP Interview: Malaysia’s Mahathir says opposition could win
April 19, 2018 GMTPUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday that huge rallies indicate some of the ruling coalition's traditional Malay supporters are now favoring the opposition and a change of government is possible in next month's elections...
AP Interview: Mahathir says opposition can win Malaysia vote
September 18, 2017 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian strongman Mahathir Mohamad says the opposition alliance campaigning to topple the country's corruption-tainted leader can win the next general elections and pull Malaysia back from a slide into kleptocracy...