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Mahathir’s still talking shop with Jokowi. Is he ‘active ageing’?

Some say it’s better to leave the party than be shown the door.

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Former Indonesia president Joko Widodo (second from L) shake hands with former Malaysian prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad (second from R), accompanied by Joko's wife, Iriana (L) and Mahathir's daughter, Marina (R), at Joko's home on Feb 26, 2025. 
 PHOTO: SYARIF M. FITRIANSYAH

Former Indonesia president Joko Widodo (centre left) shakes hands with former Malaysian prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad (centre right), accompanied by Joko's wife, Iriana (left) and Mahathir's daughter, Marina, at Joko's home on Feb 26.

 PHOTO: SYARIF M. FITRIANSYAH

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SINGAPORE – When I read that Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad had flown to Solo in late February to

meet former Indonesian president Joko Widodo

, my first reaction was to groan inwardly.

Here we go again, I thought. The “old man”, as he is affectionately referred to, is still trying to show he matters.

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