Dr M’s personal photos album launched

Many may not be aware of this fact, but former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is an avid photographer.

Three editors, namely Zin Oo Ko, Dr Mahathir’s daughter, Maizura Mahathir, and Razlan Rashid, have come up with a coffeetable book depicting the former prime minister’s personal snapshots.

Titled “Though My Lenses”, the book contains over 300 personal photographs captured by Dr Mahathir during his time in office and after he had stepped down as prime minister.

It also illustrates visuals and views from his camera lens during his travels in Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, Japan, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Dubai and destinations in Malaysia.

The book also offers handwritten captions for the photographs by Dr Mahathir, explaining what they mean to him or what he might have thought as he took them.

Asked to comment on the book, Dr Mahathir said there were too many fond memories in the photographs and it was hard for him to point out his favourite.

“Sometimes, I can’t remember where I took the photos,” he said after the launch of the book by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali here today.

On the book, Dr Siti Hasmah hoped it would provide readers another view of her husband’s personal life.

“I hope you will enjoy viewing through his lenses, the scenes and pictures, just as much as he enjoyed photographing them,” she said.

With over 10,000 photographs to choose from, the editors describe “Through My Lenses” as a book of photographs, but stress it is not a photography book.

“Rather, it is a channel used to communicate with the thoughts of Dr Mahathir, and that is the factor that makes this book unique,” they said.

“Through My Lenses” is available at major bookstores and retails at RM99. — Bernama