Datuk Seri Mahathir bin Mohammad

Mahathir bin Mohammad, Datuk Seri (1925– ), prime minister of Malaysia since 1981. Trained in medicine, he has made his career in politics. Mahathir served as deputy prime minister (1976–81) before succeeding Prime Minister Hussein bin Onn. A Malay nationalist, he was elected president of his party, the United Malays National Organization, in 1981. At the 1995 parliamentary elections his party won 80% of the votes.

See also: Malaysia.