Being Mahathir’s son

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On Mar 12, 2009

DATUK Mukhriz Mahathir is his father's son and proud of it. Without any prompting during the interview with The Nut Graph, he dives right into how the leadership style of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is sorely needed in the current economic and political crises.

Undoubtedly, "Mahathirism" is deeply entrenched in the Malaysian psyche, symbolised in so many ways from the Petronas Twin Towers to our obsession with ethnicity. Hence, it is probably no easier for the youngest son of Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali to break from that mould.

But who then is Mukhriz apart from his father? Does he have his own political identity?

It is now five years since Mahathir stepped down as the country's fourth and longest-serving prime minister. Mukhriz has survived his father's ban on his involvement in active politics to make his way up in Umno Youth. In March 2008, he emerged victorious in the general election to become a first-time Member of Parliament (MP) for Jerlun.

Following Barisan Nasional (BN)'s dismal performance in the elections, Mukhriz was among those most vocal in calling for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's resignation.

Mukhriz is now setting his sights on the Umno Youth chief post. At 45, Mukhriz is the oldest of the three Youth chief aspirants — deputy Umno Youth chief and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin is 33, and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, 44.

In this first of a two-part exclusive interview, Mukhriz talks about Umno Youth and what change for Umno means.