The Mahathir Legacy: A Nation Divided, a Region at Risk

This comprehensive analysis of contemporary Malaysia and the struggle for its political and economic leadership takes a close look at Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Highlighted are Mahathir’s two decades in power and the path of economic progress and political stability on which he has guided Malaysia. But, in 1998, a falling-out with his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, escalated into the Anwar affair, which damaged the credibility of the administration and spurred fundamentalist opposition to Mahathir and the direction the country was heading. This book details the concerns for Malaysia’s future; with Mahathir set to retire in the fall of 2003 and concerns that the country is becoming a hotbed of terrorists and zealots, Malaysia is at political and economic crossroads and the balance of power in Southeast Asia is at risk.