Dr Mahathir in the saddle
Husband-and-wife in state assembly
TAKING over as Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad advocated the Look East Policy to improve work ethics and management to achieve economic success.
For public administration, he introduced the slogan Bersih, Cekap, Amanah (Clean, Efficient, Trustworthy).
The general election was held before the nation felt the full brunt of the global economic downturn from the prices of tin and rubber going down.
The Dewan Rakyat was dissolved more than a year before the expiry of its five-year term. The election campaign consisted of house-to-house canvassing and indoor talks as public rallies were still banned.
Dr Mahathir replaced veterans with a younger set of Umno leaders.
Several ministers and deputies were dropped and five Mentris Besar were moved out.
Among those brought in was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who resigned as leader of Abim, the Muslim Youth League Malaysia, and joined Umno prior to the general election, citing the changes brought about by the Mahathir-Musa administration for his decision.
He won the Permatang Pauh parliament seat under Barisan Nasional.
Dr Mahathir defeated PAS’ Yusof Rawa Abdullah for the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat by a 15,761 majority, leading Barisan to a resounding victory.
Dr Mahathir then moved to amend the Federal Constitution to limit the powers of the King. This led to an impasse but a Bill limiting the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was eventually passed by Parliament following a compromise with the Rulers. Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Dr Oon Hong Geok, of DAP. Dr Tan represented Klang Bandar and Dr Oon Taman Aman, both in Selangor state Umno’s Tun Ghafar Baba and his son Mohamed Tamrin represented Jasin and Batu Berendam parliamentary constituencies (BN) since 1986 until 1995.
MCA’s Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek won the Batu Pahat seat while Chua Tee Yong won the Labis seat in 2008.
Lim Kit Siang (Tanjung) and Lim Guan Eng (Kota Melaka) have won on the DAP ticket in 1986, 1990, 1995 and 2008.
DAP’s Karpal Singh won the Bukit Gelugor state seat while his son Gobind Singh won the Puchong seat in 2008. Another son, Jagdeep became the Penang state assemblyman for Datuk Keramat.