Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad testified in court on August 27, alleging that remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2017 contributed significantly to his defeat in the Langkawi seat during the 15th General Election (GE15) in 2022. Dr. Mahathir claimed that Zahid’s defamatory comments, which falsely asserted that his real name was “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty,” played a pivotal role in swaying voters against him in Langkawi.
During his testimony in the defamation lawsuit against Zahid, Dr. Mahathir expressed his belief that these false allegations caused the people of Langkawi to reject him despite his long-standing efforts to develop the region. He emphasized that although Zahid’s remarks were made in 2017, they continued to influence public perception leading up to the 2022 elections, as many individuals continued to believe and circulate Zahid’s claims.
Dr. Mahathir, who had previously served two terms as the Member of Parliament for Langkawi, expressed disappointment over his defeat, attributing it primarily to Zahid's comments. He acknowledged that other factors, such as alleged corruption during GE15, may have played a role in his loss, but he maintained that Zahid’s defamatory remarks were a significant factor in his rejection by Langkawi voters.
Despite his assertion, Dr. Mahathir admitted that he could not precisely measure the impact of the claim that “Mahathir Mohamad” was not his real name on the election results. However, he strongly believed that this false narrative was one of the main reasons for his defeat.
In addition to discussing the impact of Zahid's remarks on GE15, Dr. Mahathir also claimed that these defamatory statements had affected his then-party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), during the 14th General Election (GE14) in May 2018. According to Dr. Mahathir, Zahid’s allegations led many Umno members and supporters to reject him, resulting in Bersatu securing only 13 parliamentary seats in its first electoral outing. He noted that during his previous tenure as Prime Minister and leader of Umno, the party had consistently won more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, underscoring the negative impact Zahid’s remarks had on his political standing.
Dr. Mahathir suggested that Bersatu could have won more than 13 seats if not for the lingering doubts about his name and heritage created by Zahid’s comments. He clarified that his lawsuit against Zahid was not about questioning the Muslim identity of the names “Mahathir” or “Iskandar,” but rather about the implication that he had lied about his true name. Dr. Mahathir insisted that his name is, and always has been, “Mahathir bin Mohamad,” and that Zahid’s claim of “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty” was false and defamatory.
As the hearing progressed, Dr. Mahathir, despite being 99 years old, declined an offer for a short break, demonstrating his determination to continue with the proceedings. The court hearing is scheduled to resume in the afternoon, where further details are expected to emerge.
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