Mahathir Legacy

For more than 20 years, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir has ruled with a firm hand, clinging tenaciously to power while other leaders in the region have been swept aside. But Dr Mahathir, has reached an age when the question of his retirement looms large. Although he has yet to declare when he will step down, his legacy has already taken shape. It has alarming implications for Malaysia and the region. For much of the 1990s, Malaysia was a model of economic progress and political stability,