Founder Profile
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad?
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is a founder of PROTON Holdings Berhad, which was founded in 1983.
- Company founded
- PROTON Holdings Berhad
- Founded
- 1983
Background
A medical doctor turned politician, Mahathir Mohamad was Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister (1981-2003) and later its seventh (2018-2020).
Founding Story
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched the National Car Project in 1983 as part of his heavy-industry policy, partnering state-owned HICOM with Mitsubishi to create Proton. He drove the first Saga at its 1985 launch, championed the company for decades and later served as Proton's chairman from 2014 until 2016. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Sources
This profile does not yet cite a source specific to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The sources below document the company company rather than the person, so check them against the claims above.
- PROTON: 2025 sales reach 157,976 units as exports hit 13-year high (PROTON Holdings Berhad)
- PROTON sets all-time domestic sales record in August 2026 (PROTON Holdings Berhad)