No break for Mahathir as he turns 99

Dr Mahathir Mohamad turns 99 years old today, but for the former leader, who has been in London since last week, there is no let-up in schedule as he shuttles from meeting to meeting with students, activists and community leaders.  

The trademark energy with which he still moves despite being just a year short of his centennial was remarked on by many well wishers who flooded his social media pages with birthday wishes. 

On the eve of his birthday alone, he attended two events where he fielded questions on issues affecting the Muslim world.

Dominating the conversation at both events was the war in Gaza, with the former prime minister criticising Muslim countries for inaction, saying non-Muslim nations had proven more upfront in seeking justice for the Palestinians. 

He also said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had shown itself to be irrelevant, and that Muslim countries should leverage their oil wealth to act against countries aiding Israel's war machine.

Delivering a keynote speech at an event attended by prominent British Muslim leaders, Mahathir, considered Malaysia's most influential prime minister especially during his first term, spoke on effective governance and shared his experience in leading Malaysia through significant transformations. 

There were also questions on Mahathir's health from the audience, to which he replied that he followed a disciplined lifestyle.

"The meeting was not just a rare opportunity to hear from a legendary leader but also a call to action for the Muslim community to unite, excel and uphold the principles of their faith in every aspect of life.

"The leadership meeting with Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a testament to the power of wisdom, experience, and the enduring relevance of Islamic teachings in contemporary leadership and governance," said a commentary published by Islam Channel, a leading independent Muslim satellite television channel in the UK.