Dr Mahathir attending Mandela’s wake

Fourth Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad introducing then President of African National Congress Nelson Mandela, at Stadium Negara

Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad would arrive in Johannesburg on 11 December 2013, to pay respect to father of democracy in South Africa and First Post-Apartheid President of Republic of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

Tun Dr. Mahathir is also Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s personal envoy in the funeral of the Madiba.

President Nelson Mandela, in the Prime Minister’s Office of the Old Prime Minister’s Department in Jalan Dato’ Onn

Mandela is the leader Tun Dr. Mahathir regarded most, for his selfless work to unite South Africa together, heal the divide and wounds of Apartheid and for the first time, introduce a democratic system in the most modern nation in continent Africa.

06 December 2013| last updated at 02:36PM

Death of Mandela: Mandela a leader I admire most: Dr M

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KUALA LUMPUR: The late Nelson Mandela was truly a great leader with incredible fortitude and unflinching dedication to the cause of social justice, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said the news of Mandela’s passing was received with great sadness and a deep sense of loss.

“His passing is a great personal loss to me and to all African people,” he said in a statement, here, today.

He said Mandela was not only a dear friend to him but also a leader that he admired the most.

“Whenever I am asked who I admire most among the leaders I have met, I have no hesitation in naming Nelson Mandela,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said Mandela was also a forgiving man, adding that he bore no animosity towards those who had imprisoned him, and all he cared about was reconciliation and the sharing of his country’s wealth and opportunities between blacks and whites.

“Few in the world have exhibited this kind of magnanimity,” Dr Mahathir added.

Mandela, 95, died at his home in Johannesburg on Thursday night after battling a prolonged lung infection. — BERNAMA

Read more: Death of Mandela: Mandela a leader I admire most: Dr M – Latest – New Straits Timeshttp://www.nst.com.my/latest/font-color-red-death-of-mandela-font-mandela-a-leader-i-admire-most-dr-m-1.423760#ixzz2n4XfPvh6

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Mandela is the first winner of the Mahathir Global Peace Award.

Mandela receiving the First Mahathir Global Peace Award from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (seen here handing the award to visiting South African President Jacob Zuma), in the presence of Prime Minister Najib

Tun Dr. Mahathir would bid his farewell to his dear personal friend, when the remains of President Nelson Mandela is lying in state at the Union Building in Pretoria, between 11 to 13 December. Mandela would be rest in his home village Qunu, on Sunday. -bigdogdotcom