‘I have ancestry from Kerala’: Malaysia’s Mahatir Mohamad tells court

Two-time former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the court he was born a Malay Muslim but has paternal roots tracing back to Kerala, India.

The 99-year-old, who served as Malaysia’s fourth and seventh prime minister between 1981-2003 and 2018-2020, took the stand on Monday in his defamation suit against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over Zahid’s comments about Mahathir’s ancestry.

“The defendant’s statements suggest I was not born a Malay or Muslim and that my birth name was ‘Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty’. But this is completely false.

“My name is Mahathir Mohamad, and I have been a Malay Muslim since birth, as shown on my identity card and both my old and new birth certificates.

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“My father’s name was Mohamad Iskandar and my mother’s name was Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi. My father was from Penang and was Malay, though he had ancestry from Kerala, Southern India. My mother was from Kedah, and both my parents were Malay,” he said, referring to documents submitted in court.

Mahathir, who appeared alert and clear-minded during his testimony, said no one had ever called him by the name “Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty” except Zahid in his allegedly defamatory remarks.

The former Langkawi MP said Zahid’s statements implied that Mahathir pretended to be Malay when he became prime minister for political and personal gain and that he held negative views about the Indian community.

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Mahathir claimed Zahid’s statements portrayed him as a liar, untrustworthy, and unfit to lead.

He said Zahid made the statements in 2017, but the lawsuit was filed in 2022 because Mahathir believed the comments were personal attacks meant to damage his political reputation. He added that Zahid, the Umno chief, had refused to apologise despite being given several chances.

Mahathir is represented in court by Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi and Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, while Ahmad Zahid is represented by Mohd Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman.

Mahathir is seeking general, exemplary, and aggravated damages from Zahid, as well as an injunction to stop Zahid or his representatives from repeating the claims.