Mahathir wuxuu ahaa siyaasad firfircoon tan iyo markii uu dhamaaday qabsashadii Japan ee Malaya, markii uu ku biiray mudaaharaadyadii ka dhanka ahaa muwaadinnimada la siiyay dadka aan Malayka ahayn ee hoos yimaaday Midowga Malayan. Wuxuu markii dambe ku dooday ficil wanaagsan oo loogu talagalay Malays-ka kulliyadda caafimaadka. Intii uu ku jiray kulliyadda wuxuu wax ku biiriyay The Straits Times oo uu ku magacaabay "C.H.E. Det", iyo joornaal arday, kaas oo uu si xoog leh ugu dallacay xuquuqda Malay, sida dib u soo celinta Malay sida luqad rasmi ah. Intii uu ku shaqeynayay dhakhtar Al Setor, Mahathir wuxuu noqday mid firfircoon UMNO; waqtigii doorashadii ugu horreysay ee guud ee gobolka madax-bannaan ee Malaya ee 1959, wuxuu ahaa guddoomiyaha xisbiga ee Kedah. In kasta oo uu caan ka ahaa UMNO, Mahathir ma uusan noqon musharax xukunka doorashadii 1959-kii, isagoo ka soo horjeeday khilaafkii uu la yeeshay Ra'iisul wasaaraha
Mahathir