Father’s shadow behind Mahathir leadership bid

The chief minister of the rural Malaysian state of Kedah has a familiar face, even if he lacks the charisma, provocative rhetoric and razor-sharp political skills of his famous father.

Mukhriz Mahathir is the youngest son of Malaysia's longest-serving leader, Mahathir Mohamad, whose often authoritarian rule transformed the country's economy into a developing powerhouse while winning a reputation for cronyism and dubious "mega-projects".

Ten years after his father stepped down, Mukhriz has stepped into a battle for the soul of the long-ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) in a test of 88-year-old Mahathir senior's still-powerful influence over the party.

If Mukhriz succeeds in snaring a coveted Umno vice-presidential post this month, unseating one of three seasoned cabinet ministers, it would be seen as a further blow to the flagging reform agenda of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The ruling coalition's weak election victory in May undermined Najib's attempts to forge more inclusive policies in racially diverse Malaysia, empowering Umno conservatives who want to strengthen policies favouring majority ethnic Malays.

The elder Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003 after 22 years in power, has criticised Najib's reform efforts and remains a potent figure through his towering reputation within Umno.

Victory in the party elections for the son would give rise to suspicion that he would act as a proxy for his conservative father.