Mahathir Mohamad's Birthplace

On December 20, 1925, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, was born in a house located at number 18, Lorong Kilang Ais, Alor Star, Kedah. This traditional wooden house with a thatched roof was purchased by his father, Mohamad bin Iskandar, from a seller who was intending to marry off his daughter at the time. When purchased, the house was unpainted and consisted of only one room with a veranda but no stairs in the front. This house reflects the childhood upbringing of Tun Dr. Mahathir.

He was raised here until his marriage. Even after he moved to his own house in Titi Gajah, he continued to visit this house to see his parents.

The restoration project of Mahathir Mohamad's Birthplace was proposed by the Kedah State Museum Board. In its meeting on August 21, 1990, the Board proposed that the National Archives be responsible for taking over and preserving the house under the Prime Minister's Archive Project. The Kedah State Museum Board obtained written consent from Y.A.B. Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and his siblings through a letter dated June 29, 1990, for restoration purposes. The house was acquired by the National Archives in May 1993. The effort to preserve and restore this house is aimed at safeguarding this historically significant place from decay.

The exhibition is divided into two parts: