Tunku Abdul Rahman and Mahathir bin Mohammad have much in common. Their similarities start from their birth place. Both men were born in Alor Sertar, Kedah. They also spent much of their childhood there, growing up in the same town but in a different era. It was also surprising that both former prime minister are coincidentally of mix parentage. Tunku Abdul Rahman is of Malay descendent on his father’s side, but his mother, Che Menjalara is of Thai descendent. Mahathir’s father, Mohamad Iskandar is of Indian decent while is mother was a Malay.
To pursuit tertiary education, both Abdul Rahman and Mahathir went overseas to study. Abdul Rahman attended St Catharine's College in the University of Cambridge, England while Mahathir choose Edward VII Medical Collage in Singapore. To add on that, both men took up high respected subjects. Abdul Rahman studied law in St Catharine’s Collage and Mahathir studied medicine.
Both were once great leaders of Malaysia. They were not merely leaders, but prime minister of Malaysia. Both men were practices democratic in politics. Similarly, both men were once members of United Malay National Organisation, UMNO. Besides that, they were also elected to become president of UMNO at a time. It was stated that both ex leaders dedicated their leadership to help their birth race, Malays. During Mahathir’s reign, he enhanced many rules and widened the scope of Malaysia’s economic, for example: Initially, tenders for small contracts were restricted to Malays only. Open tenders were still invited for large contracts. Abdul Rahman
Being involved in Islam during their leadership is also what both leaders share. Abdul Rahman made Islam the official religion of Malaysia. He also established the Islamic Welfare Organisation, PERKIM during his time. PERKIM is an organisation dedicated to help Muslim converts adjust to their new life as followers of Islam. Mahathir helped in the