M’sians wish Dr M Happy 93
Greetings pour in for seventh PM
PETALING JAYA: There were warm wishes all around on the 93rd birthday of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister noted for being the country’s comeback kid and the world’s oldest leader.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali tweeted: “I hope Tun will continue to be given strength and blessed by Allah SWT. Together we will build a better and just Malaysia @chedetofficial.”
The former Selangor Mentri Besar then posted a picture of him with his boss.
Dr Mahathir, whose Twitter handle is @chedetofficial, returned as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister after Pakatan Harapan led by him deposed Barisan Nasional as the federal power in the May 9 general election.
The nonagenarian has been Malaysia’s fourth and longest-serving prime minister, ruling from 1981-2003.
PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in wishing Dr Mahathir, said he hoped the birthday boy will forever be in God’s grace and abundantly blessed.
On Instagram, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir reposted a video of his parents – Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali – calling them “couple goals” while extending his wishes to his dad.
From actress Umie Aida, the mes- sage read: “I hope for Allah to give Dr Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah good health, long life and I pray that they will be blessed by God. Aamiin.”
Malaysians in general flooded social media with their “happy 93rd” wishes to their leader.
Chrisanne Chin called him the “real Ironman of the universe”.
“Tun Dr Mahathir, PM of Malaysia! He’s 93 years old today and is the world’s oldest political leader. Still kicking a****. A true inspiration. A real #marvel. #RDJ (Robert Downey Jr) would be so jealous!” she wrote.
Lee Yan Hoe said when he was young, his teacher asked him who his idol was, and he answered: “Dr Mahathir.”
“I was still young at that time and couldn’t truly comprehend how much you have done for our country. Now that I am older, I can. Thank you for inspiring me and fellow Malaysians. #TunM93,” he tweeted.
Alina Abduh wished that the premier be granted good health while adding that: “As a Sabahan, I only have one wish, which is for the state to not be neglected anymore.”
ALOR SETAR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad used to sell cendol and pisang goreng (banana fritters) with his friends less than 1km from where he was born.
He would help out at the stall during the Pekan Rabu or Wednesday market that still exists to this day.
There are children of old traders there who remember Dr Mahathir being one of them.
Songkok trader Sardi Dahar, 60, said the Prime Minister could not be separated from Pekan Rabu, a market place where its old building had been replaced by a new complex in Jalan Tunku Ibrahim.
“He would stop by the market and visit his friends each time he returned to Alor Setar. He has many friends here.
“During the Japanese occupation in Malaya, he helped his friends by selling cendol and pisang goreng because he was unable to continue his study.
“The Koperasi Pekan Rabu Alor Setar Bhd faxed him a birthday greeting to his office in Putrajaya today (yesterday),” he said.
Sardi said Dr Mahathir was a regular customer of his late father Dahar Dato who passed away some 20 years ago.
He said the Prime Minister still supported him after he took over the business.
“I made a special songkok for him, an improvised version of the one made by my late father and he liked it very much.
“I named it ‘Style TUN’, and he gave permission for his picture to be printed on the songkok box.
“Every year, Tun M (Mahathir) would buy two songkok from my shop and I have lost count of how many he had bought from me over the years,” he said.
Rice seller Che Aman Hamid, 66, said he had known Dr Mahathir for about 40 years.
“Almost every year, he would come here to buy cookies with his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
“I used to cook and send traditional cookies to him by flight to Kuala Lumpur.
“He dislikes fish but likes to eat daging, sotong and limpa (spleen),” he said. Dr Mahathir turned 93 yesterday.
His birth house at 18, Lorong Kilang Ais, off Jalan Pegawai here, is a living museum but is closed to public for upgrading and building preservation projects by National Archives.
He grew up there until he got married in 1956 and moved to his own house in Titi Gajah.
The house has a traditional veranda and is surrounded by flowering plants and trees.
Several traditional-style buildings were built in the vicinity a few years ago to display information on Dr Mahathir and his family, besides other exhibits which highlight his medical and political career.