Fifteen years later, the doctor is back in the House

PARLIAMENT | Dr Mahathir Mohamad made history today as the oldest ever Malaysian to be sworn in as an MP at the age of 93.

This is the first time he has set foot in the Dewan Rakyat since November 2003. He was then the Kubang Pasu MP when he handed over the premiership to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mahathir made his parliamentary debut in 1964 as the Kota Setar Selatan MP as a junior member of the Alliance coalition.

After the Alliance was succeeded by BN, Mahathir’s political career continued to flourish and he was soon promoted to the front bench.

He eventually became prime minister for the first time in 1981 and held the position for 22 years.

Now, he is the prime minister once again and the leader of the Pakatan Harapan coalition which was formed in 2015.

Seated to his right is Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Harapan-Pandan) and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (Harapan-Kota Raja). Directly behind him is Transport Minister Anthony Loke (Harapan-Seremban).

Seated directly opposite Mahathir on the opposition leader’s seat is former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk), who is flanked on the left by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak (BN-Pekan).

Mahathir’s has two former opposition leaders on his side of the house – Wan Azizah and Lim Kit Siang (Harapan-Iskandar Puteri).

Wan Azizah was opposition leader from 2004 to 2008, while Lim spent 18 years as opposition leader during Mahathir’s first tenure as prime minister.

Lim is seated between deputy minister Dr Hatta Ramli (Harapan-Lumut) and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (Harapan-Tanjong). 

Lim is the only MP on Harapan's front bench without any position in government.

Immediately next to the BN bloc comprising 51 lawmakers is the PAS bloc of 18 MPs. The Gabungan Parti Sarawak bloc, comprising 19 MPs, is seated next to the Harapan bloc.

-Mkini