Draft:Timeline of the Mahathir Mohamad second premiership

Mahathir Mohamad returned to office as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia on 10 May 2018 at the age of 92, becoming the world’s oldest sitting head of government. His second premiership lasted until 1 March 2020, ending in a political crisis that led to his resignation. The following is a timeline of major political and policy events during this period.

2018

• May 9 – Mahathir won a stunning victory in Malaysia's election, ending the six-decade rule of Prime Minister Najib Razak's party.
• May 10 – Mahathir being sworn in as Malaysia's seventh Prime Minister at the Palace.
• May 12 – Mahathir prohibited his predecessor, Najib Razak, from traveling abroad, citing sufficient evidence to investigate his involvement in a multi-billion-dollar scandal. He named three senior ministers in his new Cabinet.
• May 13 – Mahathir pledged to reassess a contentious "fake news" law that was rushed through before the elections and widely viewed as targeting critics of his scandal-plagued predecessor. He instructs Inland Revenue Board to return taxes collected 'illegally'.
• May 14 – Mahathir declared his intention to appoint a new head for the anti-corruption commission and replace the attorney-general who had exonerated Najib in connection with the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB state fund scandal. Mahathir was visited by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei at the Perdana Leadership Foundation. He also said the government will first study whether to repeal the Anti-Fake News Act 2018.
• May 16 – Mahathir announced that Putrajaya will lay off a total of 17,000 political appointees in an effort to reduce public expenditure.
• May 17 – Mahathir stated that he requires time to reassess Malaysia's annual economic growth, noting that several figures, including the GDP growth, were "fake." He stated that his government would "honor all agreements" while also reassessing the feasibility of projects in the country linked to China. Mahathir stated that the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) will continue, with a focus on making sure that only eligible individuals receive the assistance.
• May 18 – Mahathir expressed his disagreement with the authorities regarding the arrest of a man accused of excessively insulting him and Islam on Facebook.
• May 19 – Mahathir met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.
• May 21 – Mahathir has formed a special task force to probe into the 1MDB scandal.
• May 23 – Mahathir stated that the government will keep fuel prices unchanged at the pumps, despite the increase in global crude oil prices, and will discontinue the weekly fuel price adjustments under the managed float system. He announced that Malaysia’s public sector will undergo a downsizing process as part of the federal government’s efforts to reduce spending, due to the growing strain on the nation’s financial health. Mahathir also announced the disbandment of several government-linked agencies and institutions.
• May 25 – Mahathir met with the ambassadors of Japan and Russia during courtesy calls at the Yayasan Albukhary building.
• May 31 – Mahathir received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Perdana Putra. Modi arrived at 11:35am and was welcomed by Mahathir upon his arrival.
• June 1 – Mahathir approved the establishment of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC), which will oversee and coordinate all efforts related to governance, integrity, and the fight against corruption. He stated that the approval of the RM30 billion Kedah City project is under the jurisdiction of the state government.
• June 25 – Mahathir mentioned that he had taken a test drive of Proton Holdings Bhd’s newest sports utility vehicle (SUV), which is set to be launched soon.
• June 28 – Mahathir, along with his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, arrived in Jakarta for a two-day visit, where they were greeted at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana.
• July 1 – Mahathir stated that the National Security Council Act (NSC) 2016 is one of the laws currently under review for potential amendment or repeal.
• July 9 – Mahathir urged administrators and civil servants to avoid using their authority for personal benefit or to favor their families and friends.
• July 10 – Mahathir celebrates his 93rd birthday.
• July 20 – Mahathir assured that business figures who come forward to report or testify about corruption will be safeguarded under the new PH government. He stated that during his official visit to China in August, he will extend invitations to Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia.
• July 27 – Mahathir participated in Friday prayers alongside over 2,000 people at Masjid Khalid-Al Walid on Jalan Padang Tembak, in observance of Warriors Day.
• August 3 – Mahathir participated in a discussion with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In the 30-minute meeting at Perdana Putra, Pompeo also seized the chance to congratulate Mahathir on his remarkable victory in the May general election.
• August 9 – Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of PKR and the incoming president, stated his intention to return to Parliament to pursue reforms and serve as a backbencher in support of Mahathir's administration.
• August 13 – Mahathir encouraged Malaysians to adopt the patriotic spirit of the Japanese by purchasing local products, with the hope that they will gain global recognition as quality goods.
• August 15 – Mahathir said that Malaysia has contributed to resolving conflicts in the Middle East to the best of its ability.
• August 16 – Mahathir’s approval rating stood at 71%, surpassing the peak 62% rating attained by his predecessor Najib Razak during his term from 2013 to May 2018.
• August 17–18 – Mahathir visited Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. During the visit, he received a courtesy call and was hosted for lunch by Che Jun, the Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
• August 21 – Mahathir stated that although the government is open to investments from China, these must comply with the country's regulations.
• August 24 – Muhammed Abdul Khalid, who previously led the secretariat of the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), has been appointed as the Economic Adviser to Mahathir, starting August 27.
• August 27 – Mahathir said Malaysia will not permit foreigners to purchase residential units in the US$100-billion Forest City project located in Johor, which borders Singapore. He said that the 100-day report by the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) is not intended for public release. Mahathir also mentioned that the government cannot eliminate the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) without first properly assessing whether it should be provided only to the truly poor or to others as well.
• September 18 – Mahathir said Malaysia will not adopt nuclear power to generate energy, as scientific solutions to manage nuclear waste and radiation effects are still lacking, and past incidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown the serious consequences of radiation exposure.
• September 28 – Mahathir said the ‘New Malaysia’ will uphold UN principles such as truth, human rights, justice, and sustainability in its international engagements. At a forum hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute, Mahathir proposed the use of a regional common trading currency among East Asian countries to reduce reliance on the US dollar.
• October 11 – Mahathir attended the inaugural ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering (ALG) in Bali, Indonesia.
• October 15 – The Dewan Rakyat approved making Mahathir’s UN address the foundation of Malaysia’s foreign policy. Mahathir said that Malaysia had not yet felt the impact of the US–China trade war and expressed hope that it could benefit from redirected investments.
• October 18 – Mahathir received a phone call from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, during which they discussed anti-corruption efforts and Khan expressed interest in visiting Malaysia. He also unveiled the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, outlining bold reforms to strengthen the economy, improve governance, and promote inclusive development.
• October 24 – Mahathir arrived in Bangkok for a two-day official visit, his first to Thailand since becoming prime minister, and was received by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. He met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and pledged Malaysia’s assistance in efforts to resolve the southern Thailand conflict, while also calling for closer bilateral trade ties. Mahathir also paid a courtesy call on former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda at his official residence in Bangkok.
• October 26 – Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir met with Mahathir to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments. Mahathir thanked the Saudi government for its cordial treatment of Malaysian pilgrims during the haj.