100 days under Pakatan: Mahathir's 'back to the future' moves

Call it deja vu with the new Pakatan Harapan government, as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad revives ideas dating back to his time leading the government from 1981 to 2003. Assistant Foreign Editor Lim Ai Leen examines how the administration looks to the past as it charts Malaysia's future.

Dr Mahathir inspecting a newly launched Proton Waja in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in 2000. Dr Mahathir receiving a Japanese national football jersey from his Japanese counterpart, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo in June. Dr Mahathir wants to increase Malaysia's pr
Government advisers (from left) Tun Daim Zainuddin, Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Tan Sri Hassan Marican and Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz. PHOTO: BERNAMA
Dr Mahathir inspecting a newly launched Proton Waja in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in 2000. Dr Mahathir receiving a Japanese national football jersey from his Japanese counterpart, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo in June. Dr Mahathir wants to increase Malaysia's pr
Dr Mahathir receiving a Japanese national football jersey from his Japanese counterpart, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo in June. PHOTO: REUTERS
Dr Mahathir inspecting a newly launched Proton Waja in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in 2000. Dr Mahathir receiving a Japanese national football jersey from his Japanese counterpart, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo in June. Dr Mahathir wants to increase Malaysia's pr
Dr Mahathir inspecting a newly launched Proton Waja in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in 2000. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Dr Mahathir inspecting a newly launched Proton Waja in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in 2000. Dr Mahathir receiving a Japanese national football jersey from his Japanese counterpart, Mr Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo in June. Dr Mahathir wants to increase Malaysia's pr
Dr Mahathir wants to increase Malaysia's price of raw water supply to Singapore by more than 10 times to reflect the higher cost of living. PHOTO: ST FILE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Within days of winning the general election, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad unveiled a Council of Eminent Persons to advise the new government on economic and financial matters. The five-man team - comprising seasoned hands in the private and public sector with an average age of 75 years - is headed by Dr Mahathir's trusted adviser and shrewd businessman, Tun Daim Zainuddin.

The council has advised on scrapping the goods and services tax, reviewing mega projects, investigating troubled state fund 1MDB and restructuring government-linked companies (GLCs).

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 18, 2018, with the headline 100 days under Pakatan: Mahathir's 'back to the future' moves . Subscribe