After ruling his country with a firm hand for more than 20 years, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, surprised family, friends and the nation by unexpectedly announcing his resignation in June 2002. Urged to stay on by government colleagues, he delayed his retirement until October 2003 under an arrangement providing for his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to progressively assume the duties of leader before formally replacing him. Dr Mahathir's legacy carries worrying implications far Malaysia and the region.