Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad: Malaysia's comeback Prime Minister

Malaysians woke Thursday to the shocking news that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had kicked his one-time protege, Najib Razak, out of office, ending six decades of dominance by the ruling coalition. Making things more confusing for outsiders is the fact Mahathir himself was responsible for much of that dominance, as strongman leader of the Barisan Nasional coalition during his 22 years in power from 1981 to 2003. At 92, when sworn in Mahathir will be the world's oldest leader, 21 years older than US President Donald Trump, twice the age of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As the former head of Barisan Nasional, Mahathir served 22 years as the country's leader before retiring in 2003. A former physician, known as "Dr. M" by the public, he joined the United Malays National Organization (UNMO) in 1946, just over a decade before the country won its independence from the UK. UNMO became the dominant party in the Barisan coalition. He was first elected prime minister in 1981, serving until October 2003, when he stepped aside for his anointed successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. In retirement, Mahathir was a constant critic of Abdullah, though his barbs were nothing compared to his subsequent attacks on Najib. During his decades in power, Mahathir ruled as a strongman leader and frequently used the draconian Internal Security Act to go after critics and enemies. Indeed, many of the problems with Malaysian politics criticized by Mahathir and his allies in their campaign against Najib were put in place by the former leader, according to Yang Razali Kassim, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). "It is ironic that the man who crushed the opposition while in power has remade himself in retirement as the de facto leader of what in essence is a citizens' revolt," he said ahead of the vote.