Dr Mahathir Mohamad was named the Muslim Man of the Year in this year’s The Muslim 500, following his success in leading Pakatan Harapan to victory in the May 9 polls
and subsequent re-appointment as the prime minister. The list which ranks the world’s 500 most influential Muslims, also recalled many of Mahathir’s past achievements, including crediting him for the country’s rapid modernisation and economic growth which led to economists recognising Malaysia as the leading nation of East Asia’s “Economic Tigers”.
“This quite extraordinary man has had a dynamic political career spanning 70 years and yet at the same time been the author of 17 published books,” Prof S Abdallah Schleifer said in his write-up for The Muslim 500.
The 2019 edition of Muslim 500 was published in conjunction with its 10th anniversary. Abdallah also pointed out that at 93, Mahathir is now the world’s oldest sitting head of government.
He went on to note that Mahathir was a fierce critic of his two successors – Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak – before forming a new party, PPBM, and joining Pakatan Harapan, the then opposition coalition.
PH, Abdallah wrote went on to defeat Barisan Nasional, which had been the ruling coalition for 61 years, and Mahathir was sworn in as the prime minister for the second time.
Mahathir, he added, went on to create a special task force to investigate the 1MDB scandal and prosecute suspected embezzlers and this led to Najib’s arrest on July 3.
“Not bad for a 93-year-old politician with a history of two heart attacks and one bypass surgery.”
Meanwhile, Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian teenager who kicked and slapped an Israeli soldier, was named The Muslim 500 Woman of the Year.
