Mirzan Mahathir is a Malaysian businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the eldest son of Mahathir Mohamad, who served as the prime minister of Malaysia for two non-consecutive terms from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. Mirzan is also the chairman of several companies, including Konsortium Logistik Berhad, Petron Corporation, and Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd.
He is also the founder and president of the Albukhary Foundation, a charitable organization that supports education, health, and social welfare projects in Malaysia and abroad.
Early Life and Education
Mirzan Mahathir was born in 1958 in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. He is the eldest of seven children of Mahathir Mohamad and Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali. His paternal grandparents were Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi and Mohamad Iskandar, who were both teachers. His maternal grandparents were Mohd Ali Taib and Siti Khadijah Mohd Ali, who were both doctors.
Mirzan attended St. John’s Institution, a prestigious boys’ school in Kuala Lumpur, for his primary and secondary education. He then went to the United States to pursue his higher education. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He also obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom.
Mirzan Mahathir Wiki/Bio
| Name | Mirzan Mahathir |
| Birth Date | 1958 |
| Birth Place | Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Age | 65 years old (as of 2023) |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Ethnicity | Malay |
| Religion | Islam |
| Occupation | Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist |
| Education | Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1987), University of Brighton UK |
| Spouse | Jane Hint Husainy Abdullah |
| Children | Khadijah Mirzan, Othman Mirzan |
| Parents | Mahathir Mohamad, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali |
| Siblings | Marina Mahathir, Mokhzani Mahathir, Mukhriz Mahathir, Melinda Mahathir, Maizura Mahathir, Mazhar Mahathir |
| Grandparents | Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi, Mohamad Iskandar, Mohd Ali Taib, Siti Khadijah Mohd Ali |
| Uncles | Mustaffa Mohamad, Murad Mohamad, Mashahor Mohamad, Omar Mohamad, Mahadi Mohamad |
| Nephew | Misha Hakeem bin Mukhriz |
| Net Worth | $1.2 billion |
| mirzanmahathir | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Business Ventures
Mahathir started his career as a financial analyst at Citibank in New York in 1987. He then returned to Malaysia and joined Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB), a leading investment bank in Southeast Asia, as a senior manager in 1989. He was involved in various corporate finance and capital market transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings, and project financing.
In 1994, Mirzan left CIMB and founded Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd, a private equity firm that focuses on investing in emerging markets, especially in Asia. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the firm, which has offices in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, and Hong Kong. Some of the notable investments of Crescent Capital include Petron Corporation, a Philippine oil and gas company; Konsortium Logistik Berhad, a Malaysian logistics and transportation company; and San Miguel Corporation, a Philippine conglomerate with interests in food, beverage, packaging, power, and infrastructure.
Mirzan is also the chairman of Petron Corporation, which he acquired in 2012 from ExxonMobil for $610 million. Petron is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, with a network of over 2,400 service stations, 16 depots, and a 180,000 barrels per day refinery. Mirzan is also the chairman of Konsortium Logistik Berhad, which he acquired in 2011 from DRB-Hicom Berhad for $105 million. Konsortium Logistik is a leading integrated logistics and transportation company in Malaysia, with operations in warehousing, distribution, freight forwarding, haulage, and rail services.
Mirzan is also a director of San Miguel Corporation, which he invested in 2007 through Crescent Capital. San Miguel is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines, with interests in food, beverage, packaging, power, and infrastructure. San Miguel is also the parent company of Petron Corporation.
Philanthropy and Social Causes
Mirzan Mahathir is the founder and president of the Albukhary Foundation, a charitable organization that he established in 1996 in honor of his late uncle, Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, who was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Malaysia. The Albukhary Foundation supports education, health, and social welfare projects in Malaysia and abroad, with a focus on empowering the poor and marginalized communities. Some of the initiatives of the foundation include:
- The Albukhary International University, a fully residential university in Kedah, Malaysia, offers scholarships and free education to underprivileged students from over 40 countries.
- The Albukhary Scholarship Programme is a merit-based scholarship scheme that sponsors outstanding students from low-income families to pursue tertiary education in Malaysia and overseas.
- The Albukhary Tuition Programme is a nationwide tuition program that provides free academic coaching and mentoring to students from poor and rural backgrounds.
- The Albukhary Medical Centre, a state-of-the-art hospital in Kedah, Malaysia, offers free or subsidized medical services to needy and uninsured patients.
- The Albukhary Mosque, a grand mosque in Kedah, Malaysia, that serves as a center of worship, learning, and social activities for the local and international Muslim community.
- The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, a museum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that showcases the artistic and cultural heritage of Islam, with over 12,000 artifacts from various regions and periods.
- The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the British Museum, a gallery in London, UK, that displays the diversity and richness of Islamic art and culture, with over 1,100 objects from the museum’s collection.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Mirzan Mahathir is married to Jane Hint Husainy Abdullah, a Malaysian entrepreneur and social activist. They have two children, Khadijah Mirzan and Othman Mirzan, who are both involved in the family business and philanthropy.
Mirzan is also the uncle of Misha Hakeem bin Mukhriz, the son of his younger brother, Mukhriz Mahathir, who is the current chief minister of Kedah and the deputy president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest political party in Malaysia.
Siblings & Family
Mirzan is the eldest of seven siblings, who are all prominent figures in Malaysia’s political, business, and social spheres. His siblings are:
- Marina Mahathir, writer, activist, and former president of the Malaysian AIDS Council. She is known for her outspoken views on human rights, women’s rights, and civil society issues.
- Mokhzani Mahathir, businessman, investor, and former vice-president of UMNO. He is the chairman and major shareholder of Sapura Energy Berhad, a leading oil and gas company in Malaysia.
- Mukhriz Mahathir, politician, businessman, and former deputy minister of international trade and industry. He is the current chief minister of Kedah and the deputy president of UMNO.
- Melinda Mahathir, doctor, entrepreneur, and former director of the National Heart Institute of Malaysia. She is the co-founder and chief executive officer of MIMS Group, a leading healthcare media and information company in Asia.
- Maizura Mahathir, lawyer, educator, and former lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia. She is the co-founder and director of the Mahathir Science Award Foundation, a non-profit organization that recognizes and rewards excellence in science and technology in the developing world.
- Mazhar Mahathir, businessman, investor, and former director of Petronas, the national oil and gas company of Malaysia. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of Maza Capital Sdn Bhd, a private equity firm that focuses on investing in technology and innovation.
Physical Appearance
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 8″. In Meters: 1.72 m. In Centimetres: 172 cm. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 75 kg. In Pounds: 165.43 lbs. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
Net Worth and Assets
Mirzan Mahathir is estimated to have a net worth of $1.2 billion as of 2023, according to Forbes. He is ranked as the 15th richest person in Malaysia and the 1,425th richest person in the world. His wealth is mainly derived from his stakes in Petron Corporation, Konsortium Logistik Berhad, San Miguel Corporation, and Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd. He also owns several properties in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.
Controversies
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has issued a notice to Mirzan Mahathir, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, to declare all his assets within and outside the country within 30 days. The notice is part of an ongoing investigation into the Panama Papers and the business activities of Mirzan involving the sale and purchase of government-linked companies (GLCs).
- In 2024, he was summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to declare his assets in the country and abroad, as part of an ongoing investigation into the Panama Papers and his sale and acquisition of a government-linked company.
- In 2023, he was accused of being involved in a land scam in Kedah, where his brother Mukhriz Mahathir was the chief minister. He allegedly sold 320 hectares of land to a Chinese company at an inflated price, using his influence and political connections.
- In 1994, he was criticized for benefiting from his father’s position as the prime minister, when he received a logging concession of around 1,000 hectares of timber in Sarawak from the state government. The legal advisor to the Sarawak government admitted that the concession was given to Mirzan simply because of his father’s status.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
Mirzan Mahathir is a Malaysian citizen by birth, as he was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia in 1958. He is ethnically Malay, as both of his parents are of Malay descent. His paternal grandparents were Wan Tempawan Wan Hanapi and Mohamad Iskandar, who were both teachers. His maternal grandparents were Mohd Ali Taib and Siti Khadijah Mohd Ali, who were both doctors.
Mirzan Mahathir is a Muslim by faith, as he follows the religion of Islam. Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, and the majority of Malays are Muslims. Mirzan is also the founder and president of the Albukhary Foundation, a charitable organization that supports education, health, and social welfare projects in Malaysia and abroad, with a focus on empowering the poor and marginalized Muslim communities.
