After 15 years, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in once again as Malaysia’s Prime Minister last Thursday.

The 92-year-old statesman took his oath as the nation’s seventh Prime Minister before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, at the Istana Negara’s Balairong Seri.

In 14th General Election last Wednesday, Pakatan Harapan (a coalition of four political parties) won 135 out of 222 parliamentary seats to form a new Federal government.

Dr Mahathir himself won the Langkawi parliamentary seat with majority of 8,893 votes against incumbent Datuk Nawawi Ahmad from Barisan Nasional and Zubir Ahmad from Pas in three-cornered fight.

After taking his oath to the office, loyalty and confidentiality, Dr Mahathir signed his appointment, followed by the reading of a ‘doa selamat’ by Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.

Among those present were Dr Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali; PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail; Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman; DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and wife Betty Chew; and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) president Mohamad Sabu and wife Normah Alwi.

Earlier, Istana Negara had received the official results of 14th General Election from the Election Commission as well as a letter, supporting the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the nation’s seventh Prime Minister from the component members of the opposition.

The King, after verifying the documents, granted an audience to Dr Wan Azizah, Muhyiddin, Lim and Mohamad, before consenting to swear-in Dr Mahathir as Mrime Minister.

Born on July 10, 1925 in Alor Star, Dr Mahathir sworn in as the nation’s fourth Prime Minister on July 16, 1981.

He served the country for 22 years before stepping down in 2003, when he handed over the position to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Bada

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