Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is many things. He’s a Malaysian politician, author, and doctor who served as both the 4th and 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
He’s also living proof that age is just a number. Just shy of his 100th birthday, the former Prime Minister shared a video on his YouTube channel where he takes a spin at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
He was casually reaching speeds of over 150 km/h
In the video, the 99-year-old was seen impressively putting the pedal to the metal, confidently hitting speeds of 154 km/h behind the wheel.
He was seen enjoying the ride alongside Tan Sri Mohamed Azman Yahya, SIC’s non-executive chairman, who was initially driving the car, performing stunts while Dr. Mahathir appeared relaxed in the passenger seat.
“The people want to see something real”
Dr. Mahathir was even heard jokingly daring Azman to test the car’s limits, resulting in a drift. While driving, Azman inquired about Dr. Mahathir’s inspiration for creating the circuit back in 1998.
Dr. Mahathir explained that Malaysia didn’t have many tourist attractions at that time, and hosting races would attract international visitors, emphasising the need for the country to discover new ways to entertain the people.
“The people want to see something real. They only catch it on TV, but they want the actual experience. So, Basir (Tan Sri Basir Ismail, former SIC chairman) and I had a chat about it and figured it was worth the investment,” Dr. Mahathir shared.
Dr. Mahathir explains his reasons for choosing Sepang
When questioned about Dr. Mahathir’s decision to choose Sepang, he explained that it was due to the availability of land. The country had acquired 25,000 acres for the airport.
This provides ample space for the circuit, as it’s conveniently located not far from the airport, which was constructed later. With this land and the investment in the airport, there’s a strong potential to attract tourists.
“We organise races for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Ferrari Challenge, and GT World Challenge Asia, and they all prefer Sepang because it’s really convenient for them,” said Azman.
His need for speed has captured the attention of many netizens, who praised him for staying young at heart.
You can watch the full video down below:
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!
Also read: M’sian Shares Uncle’s MC From 1963 Which Was Signed By Tun M When He Practiced As A Doctor!
