Contribution

• Dr M has successfully created a paradigm shift in the structure of the economic system in Malaysia from a country that depended on self-subsistence agriculture, cultivation of rubber and tin mining, into a vibrant economic based on trading and industrialization. Malaysia now has heavy and high technology industries that have become developed and competitive and at par with other developed countries in the world.
• Dr Mahathir has conceptualized VISION 2020, where by the year 2020 Malaysia is expected to be fully developed country.  
• Dr Mahathir first announced the National Car Project, which is one of the many important developments as Malaysians forges ahead in achieving Vision 2020 in 1982. It started as a joined venture with Perusahaan Outomotivle National Berhad, Proton, Hicom Berhad, Mitsubishi Motor Corporation.
• Dr Mahathir has also clarified some changes in the administrative system of the country by introduce the following policies, good qualities of the East Asian countries:
• In the late 1990s, Dr Mahathir has taken steps to enable Malaysia to face the future by establishing the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), which emphasizes ‘Information Technology’ (IT) as very important asset for the country in the new millennium.
• ‘Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy’ policy              
• ‘Leadership By Example’ Policy
• Instilling ‘Islamic Values in Administration’ Policy
• These policies would make the government machinery more efficient, of higher quality and more competitive.  The implementation of such policies has resulted in the Malaysian Civil Service being one of the best in the world.

• In the field of literature, Dr Mahathir has contributed greatly since his schooling days.  Due to his great interest in writing Dr M was an editor of the Darulaman magazine, published by the Sultan Abdul HamidCollege.  While studying at the University, he was the editor of the magazine published by the Medical College of Singapore.  Among his works are ‘The Monetary Crisis of Malaysia:  How and Why It Happened,’ ‘A New Deal for Asia’, ‘The Way Forward’, ‘The Voice of Asia: Tow Leaders Discuss the Coming Century’, ‘The Malaysian System of Government’, ‘Menerangi Kemiskinan: Peladang, Penternak dan Nelayan’, ‘Regionalism, Globalism and Spheres of Influence’, ‘The Challenge’, ‘Guide for Small Businessmen’, ‘Malay Dilemma’, ‘Warisan Kepimpinan’ and ‘Menghadapi Cabaran.’
• Dr Mahathir had successfully handled the financial crisis 1997 and stabilized Malaysian economy.

• Dr Mahathir sought to make Malaysia an industrial nation and develop Malay businesses, and promoted non-individualistic "Asian values" while often denouncing the West. Although Malaysia made enormous and rapid economic progress under Mahathir, political stability was maintained by not tolerating dissent and restricting political freedoms, and his government was denounced for human-rights abuses.
• In the field of telecommunications industry, during Dr Mahathir government, Telekom Malaysia has 3.8 million fixed line customers and 1.8 million mobile phone users in Malaysia.  Banking system embarked on the extensive use of modern information technology. All schools are being equipped with computers.  Information Technology specific training institutions and universities are being established and knowledge workers encouraged to participate fully in economy.(MSC, 1998)
• Dr Mahathir has made Malaysia less depending on neighbouring country port by constructed our own major ports like Tanjung Pelepas and West Port.  This helps Malaysia to reduce foreign currency outflow.
• Dr Mahathir embarked on various  large scale national projects, such as:
• The North-South Highway, which has cut transport times in half on the west coast of Malaysia;
• The Multimedia Super Corridor, a flagship project based on Silicon Valley designed to enable malaysia’s foray into information technology (it includes Malaysia’s new administrative capital Putrajaya);
• Port of Tanjung Pelepas

• The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, and an adjacent Formula One Circuit.
• The Bakun Dam, meant to supply all of the electricity needs of the East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak and which has enough capacity to enable exportation of power to Brunei.
• Olympic-class stadium in Bukit Jalil; and
• The Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world, the world’s tallest building from 1997-2003, that have become symbolic of modern Malaysia.