Book Review: A Doctor in The House The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by

Khuzaimah Baharuddin, Jabatan Perdagangan PMM

A
DOCTOR IN THE
HOUSE
The Memoirs of
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

A Review by

KHUZA IMAH
BAHARUDDIN
Jabatan Perdagangan,
Politeknik Merlimau

Publisher : MPH Group

Publishing

First Publication: 8 March 2011 - 809 pages

ISBN : 9789675997228

Could not believe my eyes of meeting him in person at Jitra in middle year of 1996 during my
sweet-memorable-campus-life. The first sentence he threw was hang mai nak minta duit ka?
(Are you asking money from me?) It was the moment when my group of Sponsorship Bureau
of Students Leaders Council Delegation to Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak started our first
phase in getting sponsorship for the students leader project.

Time flies. In March last year I saw this book at MPH Bookstore at the price of RM 100 after its
first release and only recently I owned it for the price of RM88 at Thai Kuang Melaka too good
for a mind transfer of Mahathirsme Leadership.

Personally, I must say that this is definitely one of the most important books that any Malaysian
should have and read. A man, seen as a personal hero to many, who gives his insight into
Malaysian politics from his point of view, during his tenure as the country's PM for more than
20 years.

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 Book Review: A Doctor in The House The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by
Khuzaimah Baharuddin, Jabatan Perdagangan PMM

Curiosity in the business and entrepreneurship

Mahathirs curiosity in the business and entrepreneurship realm began during the Japanese
Occupation, when he was in his impressionable teens. Although the general Malay aspiration of
the time was to become a government clerk, and many of his siblings struggled to serve the
struggling government under the strict Japanese regime, Mahathir found that his survival
instincts of an entrepreneur had played to his benefit. He and some comrades set up a small
stall selling food and it was during that time that difficult period of non-subsidies that it was
either feast or famine for the local Malaysian. The young entrepreneurs found themselves more
successful than their peers who struggled with desk-job employment with the administration.
After a few stints in different trades, Mahathir found himself educated on unfair trade (through
learning how to short-change the customer). And it was through this experience that he
suggested regimented rules on how to eradicate corruptive practices by businessmen later on.
His plight earning money, moving on, experiencing setbacks and becoming successful
strongly represents the journey of many players of the small-medium industries in Malaysia,
whereby entrepreneurship is something of the cultural norm amongst locals. In recent years,
the government has also launched graduate entrepreneur schemes and had included
entrepreneurship degree programmes and elective courses in universities and colleges to
enhance the entrepreneurial substance of the country.

The Malaysianisation of Companies

Mahathir talks succinctly about the negative effects of colonisation, and like other countries
that have been colonised by the British, the grappling for ownership over some important
economic sectors were difficult but slowly achieved over the years. Malaysia is richly endowed
with many natural resources such as tin, palm oil and rubber. All three sectors represent a
substantial segment of growth for the economy. Exports that have been born out of these raw
materials include tyres, gloves, food cans, soap and cooking oil. Crude palm oil, in particular,
has always been an earmark for economic discussion relating to Malaysia as the country
remains the worlds largest producer of the same, warranting its own index on the Malaysian
Bourse.

Malaysia, as a rapidly developing nation one that is set to achieve the developed status in
2020, a Vision also coined by Mahathir would have never been in the position to formulate
such a strategy had Mahathir and his office not grappled for rightful ownership over the
corporations that were channelling tax revenue back to Britain.

The New Brand of Malaysia

Mahathirs idea on the branding of Malaysia came very much by the Vision 2020, the perfect
vision for anyone to have, according to optometry his master plan that he had laid out was to
have Malaysia placed on the world map through attaining the developed status without

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 Book Review: A Doctor in The House The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by
Khuzaimah Baharuddin, Jabatan Perdagangan PMM

forgoing the Eastern ideals and customs. This, through his own vision, would materialise
through a major shift in industries.

Agriculture- Manufacturing - Services

Developing countries have been known to make an important shift in sectors (as to capitalise
on the more effective economic drivers) and Malaysia was not alien to such a change. Although
agricultural projects have always been a forte in the economy, and arguably, still is Mahathir
decided to embark on new projects with emphasis on technology.

Ironically, although his memoirs talk about the fear and uncertainty under the Japanese
occupation, when Mahathir first assumed office as Prime Minister in the early 80s, one of the
first policies he implemented was the Look East Policy for the business infrastructure of
Malaysia. The Look East Policy embalmed a strong belief in looking towards Japan for the
better foundation of business culture, such as implementing their self-discipline, business
policies and organisational behaviour. It is interesting to note that at a time during the
Japanese Occupation, Mahathir attended a Japanese-run school, and it was through certain
practices such as radio drills, intermittent breathing exercises long distance running in
formation, that he found he had the stamina to accomplish his goals. This is probably how he
remained in office for so long and how Malaysia pushed forwards to reap revenue from the
manufacturing industry and later the services sector.

One of the first manufacturing-based leaps of faith came through the electronic transistor,
which led Malaysia to become a major exporter of microchips ad this was when the country
began to draw attention on the world map.

Another major project was Proton, the Malaysian national car. Mahathir decided that he did
want to see more Malaysians driving cars, but driving Malaysian cars. Proton has definitely
faced much criticism over the years due to government policies that continued to protect the
infancy of the local car manufacturing sector even after decades of its existence by
imposing oppressive levels of tax upon foreign imports. Consumers argued that this was
curtailing their choice in purchasing better quality cars for the sake of saving a government
project. And critics insisted that Proton was one of the companies that were meant to fail
under a capitalist market in order for the sector to grow stronger and produce better quality
cars for the local market. On the flip side though, supporters of the shift to the Heavy
Industries sector insist the change was a positive one as it propelled Malaysia from being an
agro-dependent economy and forced a change in mindset on how to utilise technology to build
locally-owned products, and in the case of Proton, the national car.

Several other government-led corporations that have been recognised globally as well
throughout the Muslim world include Malaysian Airlines, Petronas and Sime Darby, but have
also received similar criticisms as to their survival.

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 Book Review: A Doctor in The House The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by
Khuzaimah Baharuddin, Jabatan Perdagangan PMM

MSC, KLIA, F1 the Breaking of Services Sector

The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) was meant to be the launch pad for a paradigm shift in
the mindset of Malaysians with respects to ICT, emulating the Silicon Valley in the US.
Unbeknown to many though, the MSC was born from the accomplishments of the microchips
project and pushed Malaysia forwards into the Information Age with full control over her
destiny.

The MSC essentially is one of the mega projects left of Mahathirs legacy, especially with
respects to achieving Vision 2020. Creating a virtually physical corridor from the city centre to
the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Malaysias own F1 Circuit (a project also led by
Mahathir), the MSC encompasses a stretch of companies that are strongly affiliated to ICT.

Unfortunately, Mahathir, as much as a founder of many business projects and a marketer of

many leading Malaysian brands, was and is a politician to the core. The MSC, he admits himself,
hit many stumbling blocks after he stepped down as Premier and although it seems like the
private sector in Malaysia has matured in ICT development, a lot of ambiguity still rests with
the real progress of the industry, mostly due to the lack of governmental support.

Family Values Mahathir and Hasmah

By no means Mahathir says that monogamous marriages are perfect. In practice,
disagreements cannot be avoided but its should not cause any break-up in husband-wife
relations. For example, he is a stickler for time. Hasmah, however, is always late, inevitably
having something to sort out just before they have to leave. At first this difference caused a lot
of friction. Now he makes jokes about her tardiness and making exaggerated efforts at helping
to find what she is looking for. He irritates her by following her around the room. He lies and
say they have to leave at 8pm when they actually have to leave later. Still, she is incorrigible.
Mutual regard and good humour, as this small example shows, can preserve a marriage. To be
happy, one must learn to make compromises with grace.

Mahathir a Muslim Malay Name

Mahathir is recognised as a brand name across the Muslim world with Malaysia being known
to be a progressive Muslim-populated country. It can be said that most modernisation came
from the fourth premier who was always forward-looking in wanting to achieve goals for the
country. His personal account of how he came to be a government servant, the Prime Minister
of Malaysia and his life afterwards (in line with his personal beliefs he has abided by) is a
must-read for any person who is inclined to learn about the country or the man himself.

Briefly, heres some chapters of what readers can expect to find in the former premiers book :
Becoming Prime Minister, I Am A Malay, The Tunku Makes A Proposal, Expelled, In The Political

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 Book Review: A Doctor in The House The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by
Khuzaimah Baharuddin, Jabatan Perdagangan PMM

Wilderness, Anwar Joins Umno, Daim Becomes Finance Minister, Ops Lalang, Vision 2020,
Financial Crisis Fallout, Resignation, Problems With Singapore.

A Doctor in the House: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad takes readers on a journey
known to very few outside Tun Dr Mahathirs immediate family: from his earliest memories of
childhood; through the most important events in the history of Malayas struggle through the
sunset of British colonialism, World War, and Independence; to his life as a doctor; his constant
struggles as a politician to improve the lot of his fellow citizen; his single-minded pursuit of his
countrys goals; his greatest fears; and his most cherished hopes.

It is a surreal read for history buffs, politically-inclined readers and those who enjoy a solidly
pleasant book. It tells the tales of a medical doctor who lived through a myriad of foreign
occupations, raised a family, led a nation for 23 years, and had a simmering penchant for
business. Many people know Mahathir for being the Prime Minister of Malaysia with the
longest tenure and the one who played an integral rule in placing Malaysia on the world map
but few realize how much of a role he played in creating some of Malaysias most important
brands and promoting them globally. Indeed, Mahathir became a brand name himself - a
Muslim Malay name.

Kerja bertangguh tidak menjadi, kerja bersungguh mendapat berkat

Citra 2 Hati 1 Aspirasi - Mahathir Mohamad

Keep Reading and Admiring,

QuzaiFuaad
Seven Eleven the 12th