100 and Thriving: Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad shares the secret to a long, meaningful life

“𝘐’𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 C𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺.” — 𝗧𝘂𝗻 Dr. 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱

He walks into the room with quiet energy, dressed simply, posture straight, eyes alert, as though time has only passed through him, not over him. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister and one of the world’s most recognisable elder statesmen, turned 100 years old this week. Yet, there is nothing about him that seems tired.

At a private birthday gathering at Global Doctors, Mont Kiara, Tun M surprised the crowd not just with his presence — but with his clarity, humour, and enduring sense of purpose. The moment wasn’t just a celebration of age, but of a life still in motion.

“You have to look after your health…” When asked the inevitable question, “What’s your secret to longevity?” Tun M answered without hesitation.

“If you don’t suffer from fatal diseases, you should be able to live for 100 years.”

No strict routines. No extreme diets. Just discipline and balance.

“I live a normal life. I eat normally. I think the only thing is that I don’t put on weight,” he added.

Then, flashing his trademark dry wit:

“I still wear the same trousers I made 14 years ago. I’m very stingy — I don’t want to keep making new ones!”

It’s this blend of simplicity and self-discipline that has carried him through not just decades in power — but in life.

The Mind, Like the Body, Must Be Used

For Tun Mahathir, the mind is a muscle that must be kept active. Retirement, he believes, is often where decline begins.

Mental health is very important. The brain must stay connected. Same with the muscles — if you don’t use them, they weaken.

He warns against well-meaning family members who encourage aging parents to rest all day, even out of love.

“That’s bad,” he says plainly.

“You must try to live a normal life. Even now, I go to the office every day. On weekends too. You must have something to do — read, write, garden, whatever. Just don’t stop.”

It’s this refusal to disengage from life that has allowed him to stay alert, engaged, and intellectually sharp.

On Marriage and Tolerance

In a rare personal reflection, Tun M also shared his thoughts on long-lasting relationships — revealing that longevity applies not only to life, but to love.

Once you remarry another person, you hurt the feelings of your wife and your children. So I refuse to be tempted.

His secret to a happy marriage?

Tolerance. You’re not the same. Your wife is different. You’re different. She must tolerate you, and you must tolerate her.

With a smile, he recalled how his wife would take longer to get ready while he waited impatiently in the car. At first, it led to quarrels. But eventually, it became just another rhythm in their life together.

I had to accept that. She had to accept me. That’s how it works.

A Message That Goes Beyond Age

What makes Tun Mahathir’s words resonate isn’t just that they come from a man who has lived a century, but that they are grounded in lived experience. His advice doesn’t come from medical textbooks or trend-driven wellness routines. It comes from a life of discipline, focus, purpose, and acceptance.

You must keep moving. Keep thinking. Keep doing. That’s how you stay alive — not just in body, but in spirit.

At 100, Tun M is not simply growing old. He is growing forward and urging the rest of us to do the same.  He’s living proof that with the right mindset, discipline, and care for our health, it’s possible to stay sharp and active even after a century. 

His journey reflects what Prof. Mike Chan has been promoting for years through his work in anti-aging and bioregenerative medicine, that growing older doesn’t have to mean growing weaker. 

By taking care of our cells, our minds, and our bodies, we can live longer, healthier, and with a greater sense of purpose. Tun M isn’t just celebrating 100 years — he’s showing us how to live them well.