Before and Beyond the Malay Dilemma: In Conversation With Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Welcome back to Pathways! This is a very special episode. In today's conversation, titled "Before and Beyond The Malay Dilemma", I had the opportunity to not only talk about a crucial social issue in Malaysia, but also to do so with the person who created the concept: Tun Dr. Mahathir, the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia. It was a monumental privilege to speak with Tun about his thoughts on education, and it was a truly incredible experience. Walking into his office felt unreal, but so did actually speaking to the man himself—shaking the hand of the leader of the country in which I live, the country that has shaped my life since the day I was born. It was deeply surreal, nigh unimaginable, yet it happened... And there I was, in conversation with the world's oldest elected Prime Minister, the creator of my father's final legacy - the book he had written after being cast out of UMNO - The Malay Dilemma. The conversation was deeply fascinating, and I am sure you will enjoy it. Here's a summary of what we discussed: stories of old, such as the legends of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, The Malay Dilemma, Tun's medical background, and his journey into the Education Ministership and Prime Ministership, covered throughout his memoirs. We also covered his thoughts on education, medicine as a philosophy, his way of life, his approach to politics and administration, and Malaysia's relationship with the wider world, including with Singapore, as captured in a discussion featuring the late Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore. As we delved into Tun's career, we discussed the UUCA (Universities and University Colleges Act) and his thoughts on it, as well as his views on science and mathematics education in English, embodied in the PPSMI policy. Our conversation was also deeply focused on books, as we explored both Tun's The Malay Dilemma and his memoir "A Doctor in the House", alongside the late Lee Kuan Yew's "From Third World to First". You will find links to these books below. The Malay Dilemma: https://geni.us/themalaydilemma A Doctor In The House: https://geni.us/doctorinthehouse From Third World To First: https://geni.us/thirdworldtofirst Disclosure: using these links will help support my journey and grant me a commission! This was an incredible and transformative conversation with a world-renowned leader. Love him or hate him, one thing is certain—you cannot ignore Tun Mahathir. It was a manifest pleasure to have this conversation with you, Tun Dr. Mahathir, and it is my great privilege to share it with the world. Thank you for your candid thoughts and your presence, for constantly surprising us with your 150 km/h wild rides — I hope that won't happen too often but hope you will enjoy yourself! I look forward to a better Malaysia, one that will continue to stand tall and lead among the nations of the world.