Mahathir bin Mohamad Fast Facts December 6, 2013 -- Updated 1541 GMT (2341 HKT) (CNN) -- Here is a look at former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Bin Mohamad. Personal: Birth date: December 20, 1925 Birth place: Alur Setar, Kedah Father: an Indian Muslim, was a teacher in Northern Malaysia Marriage: Siti Hasmah Ali (1956) Children: at least three sons and two daughters Education: Entered the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore in 1947 Other Facts: Prime minister of Malaysia from July 1981 to October 2003. Is a physician, and one of his nicknames is Dr. M. After losing his first seat in parliament, wrote a book called "The Malay Dilemma." The book contained racist stereotypes, but helped establish Mahathir as an advocate for Malay rights. Credited with turning Malaysia into a major trading and economic force in southeast Asia. Timeline: 1946 - Joins the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). 1964 - Is elected to Parliament for the first time. 1969 - Loses his seat in Parliament and is expelled from the UNMO. 1972 - Returns back to UMNO. 1973 - Is appointed a Senator in the Malaysian parliament. 1974 - Is elected as minister of education. 1976 - Becomes deputy prime minister. July 1981 - Becomes Malaysia's fourth prime minister, minister of home affairs, and minister of justice. January 1989 - Has heart bypass surgery. 1998 - Dismisses his deputy Anwar Ibrahim and accuses him of sodomy and corruption. June 2002 - Announces his resignation. October 16, 2003 - At a 57-nation Islamic summit in Malaysia, Mahathir claims in a speech that Jews "rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them. October 31, 2003 - Mahathir retires and passes the prime ministership to his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. September 2007 - Has heart bypass surgery following two heart attacks within 10 months. May 16, 2008 - The Malaysian government announces it has begun an investigation into corruption by the Mahathir administration in the 1980s and 1990s. May 19, 2008 - Mahathir resigns from the United Malays National Organization, the ruling party of Malaysia.