At 99 years old, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad faced a new kind of challenge as he took the witness stand today in his defamation lawsuit against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The court meticulously adjusted its procedures to accommodate Dr. Mahathir’s age and health needs during his testimony.
Dr. Mahathir, who celebrated his 99th birthday last month, arrived at the High Court dressed in a formal suit and tie. He began his testimony promptly at 10:04 a.m., reciting his oath with a clear and steady voice, despite the challenges posed by his advanced age.
Shortly into the session, around 40 minutes in, Dr. Mahathir’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, alerted the court to a potential issue with Dr. Mahathir’s earpiece, which seemed to be malfunctioning. Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong quickly permitted the court’s medical personnel to adjust the earpiece to ensure Dr. Mahathir could hear clearly.
Following this adjustment, the court took a customary short break at 11:10 a.m., lasting about 20 minutes, which is a standard practice during court proceedings to give lawyers and witnesses a brief respite.
As the session resumed, Zahid’s lawyer, Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, presented two different numbers, "2232518" and "2232519," from various news reports related to Zahid’s statements made in a July 2017 Umno division meeting. When asked if he recognized these numbers, Dr. Mahathir indicated they appeared unfamiliar.
To assist Dr. Mahathir, Judicial Commissioner Gan provided a magnifying glass, offering it with the comment, “That may assist you, Tun.” With the help of the magnifying glass, Dr. Mahathir examined the numbers and confirmed that they were different, noting that "2232519" was the number of his old identity card.
As the court approached noon, Mohamed Shahrul Fazli proposed a lunch break. Judicial Commissioner Gan was considerate of Dr. Mahathir’s needs, asking if a break until 2:30 p.m. would be sufficient for him to have lunch and take any necessary medication. Dr. Mahathir’s lawyer suggested a slightly longer break, and Gan agreed to a 3:00 p.m. resumption, with the session continuing until 4:30 p.m. The Commissioner also assured Dr. Mahathir that if he required additional breaks during the afternoon, the court would accommodate them.
Dr. Mahathir’s wife, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, who recently turned 98, was also present in the courtroom, providing support.
Throughout the morning’s proceedings, Dr. Mahathir answered questions with clarity and conviction, maintaining that Zahid’s insinuations about his name—“Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”—were false and defamatory. Dr. Mahathir reiterated his identity as a Malay and Muslim, asserting that he has always been known as “Mahathir bin Mohamad.”
Dr. Mahathir’s appearance in court today was not his first. Over a decade ago, he had also testified in the High Court as a defense witness in the trial of former Transport Minister Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik related to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project. Dr. Ling was acquitted of charges in 2013.
The court’s efforts to accommodate Dr. Mahathir reflect the respect and consideration given to an elderly statesman navigating complex legal proceedings.
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