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The Apple and the Tree: Life as Dr Mahathir's Daughter
When an apple falls, does it roll far or stay close to its tree?
Is it an exact clone of all the other apples the tree produces or something entirely different?
This is the question that has perplexed the public about Marina for the simple reason that she is the daughter of the man who has governed Malaysia for almost twenty-four years. Does she echo him in his view of the world, or does she chart her own path?
Why is it that in her own public life, in her writing and speeches, she expresses opinions that seem to contradict his?
This book hopes to detail how she has navigated her life as the daughter of a charismatic politician and a loving father, even as sometimes she has chafed at being constantly under his shadow. It talks about how she has struggled to find her own identity, to defend her worldview at times and to reconcile them with his at others.
She tells the story of growing up as the daughter of Malaysia's most influential leader, from the values instilled in her as a child, right up to the day he was forced to step down as the 7th Prime Minister after leading the historic ouster of the government he used to lead.
Is it an exact clone of all the other apples the tree produces or something entirely different?
This is the question that has perplexed the public about Marina for the simple reason that she is the daughter of the man who has governed Malaysia for almost twenty-four years. Does she echo him in his view of the world, or does she chart her own path?
Why is it that in her own public life, in her writing and speeches, she expresses opinions that seem to contradict his?
This book hopes to detail how she has navigated her life as the daughter of a charismatic politician and a loving father, even as sometimes she has chafed at being constantly under his shadow. It talks about how she has struggled to find her own identity, to defend her worldview at times and to reconcile them with his at others.
She tells the story of growing up as the daughter of Malaysia's most influential leader, from the values instilled in her as a child, right up to the day he was forced to step down as the 7th Prime Minister after leading the historic ouster of the government he used to lead.
- GenresMemoir
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2021
6 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Marina Mahathir
9 books8 followersMarina is well known as a leader in many non-governmental organizations such as the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and is currently an active socio-political blogger. She also writes in her bi-weekly column called Musings in The Star newspaper since 1989. Some of her pieces in the column have been published in her books such as 50 Days: Rantings by MM, published in 1997 and Telling It Straight, published in 2012 by Editions Didier Millet. The latter is a selection of her articles published in her column between 2003 and 2012. It includes a foreword by Dr. Farish A. Noor, a local political scientist and historian. It contains 90 articles which are written thematically including a special written introduction on the topics discussed in the book. It also includes two previously unpublished articles.
She is an active campaigner for women's rights. In 2006 she has described the status of Muslim women in Malaysia as similar to that of the Black South Africans under apartheid.
Marina has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.
She had appeared in Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's Documentary released in late 2009 with the rest of the members of the Mahathir Family.
In 2010, she was awarded UN Person of The Year for her volunteer work in combatting HIV/AIDS
She is an active campaigner for women's rights. In 2006 she has described the status of Muslim women in Malaysia as similar to that of the Black South Africans under apartheid.
Marina has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.
She had appeared in Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's Documentary released in late 2009 with the rest of the members of the Mahathir Family.
In 2010, she was awarded UN Person of The Year for her volunteer work in combatting HIV/AIDS
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 20, 2021
This is a fresh memoir as we get to see the life of a politician from his child’s perspective. Not a son but a daughter. A then young and oblivious Marina Mahathir turning into a woman who became one of the backbones in her father’s political journey
The book starts with Marina telling her childhood memories of growing up in Kedah, with a big family and siblings of four (add 2 later in the years). Despite the silver spoon upbringing, Marina did not exempted from getting strict “Asian parenting”. She too has to make effort in her studies and experienced both public & private schools. I personally like how Tun M was adamant on Marina schooling at TKC, showing Marina that there are girls who could perform exceptionally well in studies, coming from various family background
They say the best education is life experiences. During her undergraduate years, reality slapped hard when she was asked by a friend about Malaysia’s New Economic Policy & its discrimination towards non-Malays. She was offended not because of who her father is but how she felt so ignorant & helpless, unable to defend her own country by mere criticism with her lack of knowledge. I felt (and still am) the same way too, being a young ignorant traveler who has little knowledge on the city/state I live in
When she’s finally return to home country, the privileges follow. But I admire her determination to start her career from below & avoided her father’s spotlight
The book has shifted towards heavy political issues in Part 4, starting from Bersih rallies. I was in PJ that time & I’ve never felt so close to any demo in my whole life. The events mentioned in Part 4 spark recent memories of what’s happening in Malaysia and this again, is a nice perspective to read from a person close to these politicians (yes, there are 🍵)🤭
This memoir is a 5🌟 read although Marina didn’t tell much of the political situations happening during her father’s reign. Either she wasn’t as active then or that the recent phenomena are much worth telling. After all, the book is meant to tell her life as a daughter of a renowned figure who lead 🇲🇾 twice
Having a politician in the family not only affecting one life but the whole family too. It’s like you’re marrying the politics yourself. I wish to see Mukhriz’s view too, since he’s the one in pursuit of this career as well
**My review copy is courtesy from Times Reads & Ms Putri Fariza
The book starts with Marina telling her childhood memories of growing up in Kedah, with a big family and siblings of four (add 2 later in the years). Despite the silver spoon upbringing, Marina did not exempted from getting strict “Asian parenting”. She too has to make effort in her studies and experienced both public & private schools. I personally like how Tun M was adamant on Marina schooling at TKC, showing Marina that there are girls who could perform exceptionally well in studies, coming from various family background
They say the best education is life experiences. During her undergraduate years, reality slapped hard when she was asked by a friend about Malaysia’s New Economic Policy & its discrimination towards non-Malays. She was offended not because of who her father is but how she felt so ignorant & helpless, unable to defend her own country by mere criticism with her lack of knowledge. I felt (and still am) the same way too, being a young ignorant traveler who has little knowledge on the city/state I live in
When she’s finally return to home country, the privileges follow. But I admire her determination to start her career from below & avoided her father’s spotlight
The book has shifted towards heavy political issues in Part 4, starting from Bersih rallies. I was in PJ that time & I’ve never felt so close to any demo in my whole life. The events mentioned in Part 4 spark recent memories of what’s happening in Malaysia and this again, is a nice perspective to read from a person close to these politicians (yes, there are 🍵)🤭
This memoir is a 5🌟 read although Marina didn’t tell much of the political situations happening during her father’s reign. Either she wasn’t as active then or that the recent phenomena are much worth telling. After all, the book is meant to tell her life as a daughter of a renowned figure who lead 🇲🇾 twice
Having a politician in the family not only affecting one life but the whole family too. It’s like you’re marrying the politics yourself. I wish to see Mukhriz’s view too, since he’s the one in pursuit of this career as well
**My review copy is courtesy from Times Reads & Ms Putri Fariza
December 9, 2021
A very readable, very interesting memoir. I enjoyed the glimpses into the personal lives of these very public individuals.
March 28, 2022
The Apple and the Tree: Life as Dr Mahathir’s Daughter by Marina Mahathir
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has written her own book and answers the question lingering in everyone’s mind: What is it like to be Tun M’s daughter?
Reading this book is like having a backstage pass to the inside of Tun M’s family’s life. From when she was little and having fun in the extravaganza garden they had at the government quarters to her teenage years questioning her parents' decision to send her to boarding school, her involvement in the HIV campaign, down to Bersih rallies and her task as the daughter of a phenomenal man is still going on.
The best part of her writing is that you can relate what you read(or thought you knew based on the news/socmed) to an occurrence in Malaysia with Marina’s detailed illustrations of the event. She even mentioned their names straight away—no sugar coating. Oh my. and with that, the “kepohci” part in me who are hungry for juicy truth is left well-fed!😆
I love two chapters the most: HIV and me and Betrayals. I find her involvement and devotion to HIV awareness admiring. As for Betrayals, it was a few episodes of jaw-dropping moments for me as she shared what really happened when Tun decided to step down as the 7th Prime Minister. (YOU HAVE TO READ)
And the one thing that I adore about this family is that despite the controversies and bomb-dropping events in their lives, they continue trying to have an everyday life such as having weddings and gatherings, even though these beautiful events are usually intertwined with bad news and backstabbers lurking everywhere.
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has written her own book and answers the question lingering in everyone’s mind: What is it like to be Tun M’s daughter?
Reading this book is like having a backstage pass to the inside of Tun M’s family’s life. From when she was little and having fun in the extravaganza garden they had at the government quarters to her teenage years questioning her parents' decision to send her to boarding school, her involvement in the HIV campaign, down to Bersih rallies and her task as the daughter of a phenomenal man is still going on.
The best part of her writing is that you can relate what you read(or thought you knew based on the news/socmed) to an occurrence in Malaysia with Marina’s detailed illustrations of the event. She even mentioned their names straight away—no sugar coating. Oh my. and with that, the “kepohci” part in me who are hungry for juicy truth is left well-fed!😆
I love two chapters the most: HIV and me and Betrayals. I find her involvement and devotion to HIV awareness admiring. As for Betrayals, it was a few episodes of jaw-dropping moments for me as she shared what really happened when Tun decided to step down as the 7th Prime Minister. (YOU HAVE TO READ)
And the one thing that I adore about this family is that despite the controversies and bomb-dropping events in their lives, they continue trying to have an everyday life such as having weddings and gatherings, even though these beautiful events are usually intertwined with bad news and backstabbers lurking everywhere.
March 11, 2022
A life of a Malaysian prime minister’s daughter.
My advice : read once with a neutral political stand, read twice and form your own opinions.
First half of the book is about her life, her journey being an activist for HIV/AIDS, write newspaper columns.
Second half is about the political journey of her father and the political landscape of Malaysia in general. Her opinions on certain political leaders are stark and clear on where she stands. There were some topics I think her (or the editors) decided to cut short and speak on them briefly as they might ruffle the old bitter history, and I respect her choice but bit disappointed as that’s the initial reason I read the book. This book also has bitter throwbacks of the 2018 general election and the Sheraton move.
But in the end, I quite don’t understand what message was she trying to convey in this book. Was she hinting of several betrayals her family faced? Her opinions and stances on malaysian politics, from a bystander viewpoint? Maybe I expected way too much.
My advice : read once with a neutral political stand, read twice and form your own opinions.
First half of the book is about her life, her journey being an activist for HIV/AIDS, write newspaper columns.
Second half is about the political journey of her father and the political landscape of Malaysia in general. Her opinions on certain political leaders are stark and clear on where she stands. There were some topics I think her (or the editors) decided to cut short and speak on them briefly as they might ruffle the old bitter history, and I respect her choice but bit disappointed as that’s the initial reason I read the book. This book also has bitter throwbacks of the 2018 general election and the Sheraton move.
But in the end, I quite don’t understand what message was she trying to convey in this book. Was she hinting of several betrayals her family faced? Her opinions and stances on malaysian politics, from a bystander viewpoint? Maybe I expected way too much.
August 25, 2022
This book is beautifully written, full of humour and self-deprecation. I could hardly put it down. Marinah Mahatir has made Malaysian politics not only accessible but also interesting to an outsider. Alongside the politics, Mahtatir reveals her work as an activist and journalist with such modest descriptions it would be easy to overlook the incredible work she has done. However the overwhelming impression the book has left with me is not of political manoeuvring and activism, it’s of a loving family sticking together through decades of upheaval and struggle. A stunning portrait.
December 17, 2022
Since this is a political biography/autobiography, it's wise to read with a neutral political view. Until the end I was unclear with her intention of writing this book, maybe just a mere biography. First few parts of the book is about her life and last two parts is where things finally got interesting since it discusses, Mahathir's political journey with some background on Malaysian political landscape in general. I do enjoy the political insights the author provide however I would've enjoyed more if the author are being clear of her direction of narrative.
August 7, 2023
This was refreshing. I'm not really interested in politics but this book gives me a little sneak peak on the inside. I'm still on the neutral side but I do agree with some of her points. Dr. M might be on the controversial edge right now but this humanises him and I never sees him as anything less. Do I always agree with his political viewpoints? No. But do I see him as a human being? Yes. Anyway, this memoir is good, well-paced, well-written and surprisingly funny at some point. I mean, politics in Malaysia also never felt serious to me but at least this is fine.
June 24, 2022
Arresting, compelling, and deeply affecting. This book engaged me from beginning to end with her down to earth observations and introspective clarity— I couldn’t put it down. Knowing of the author’s high-powered status, her unpretentious and humble voice was endearing, drawing the reader close. Family is one of the hardest things to write about, but she has done it masterfully, an impressive achievement indeed.
December 31, 2021
Very seldom do I read biography, what more a Malaysian biography especially after the whole Malaysia saga the last couple of years.
Yet, I teared when I reached the part where Malaysians came out in unity in 2018 irregardless of race, religion to do what they can for the homeland.
A very good read from a different perspective.
Yet, I teared when I reached the part where Malaysians came out in unity in 2018 irregardless of race, religion to do what they can for the homeland.
A very good read from a different perspective.
July 21, 2022
My second autobiography that I read cover to cover; and it's as good as my first - Becoming. Good flow and witty narrative. Certain bits were repeated, which should have been caught by the publisher/editor.
Read
January 2, 2022Nice book and finished on 2 January 2022. Lots of insights from Marina Mahathir
March 23, 2022
Would be such a great and magnificent read if it hadn't touched heavily on politics on the last few chapters. Too much view on the author's political ideology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2022
Enjoyed reading this. Much of the apple, it’s about the tree, imo.
Read
March 1, 2023such a very insightful read. highly recommended!
July 29, 2023
Marina is a good story teller. Really enjoyed this book.
May 13, 2024
An enjoyable read!
November 17, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable read that provided insights on Mahathir’s political career through the lenses of one of the people closest to him
December 10, 2024
I enjoyed reading this and it was a quick read. The last chapter was particularly poignant.
April 6, 2022
✨Book Review✨
The Apple and The Tree
Rate: 5🌟
Thoughts 💭
This is an exposé by Marina Mahathir,living most of her life as Prime Minister’s daughter. Not to forget,her dad led this country twice in our time! In addition,I do think this book somehow cleared the stigma which most people had for her and her siblings as the children of Mahathir Mohamad. Despite avoiding the spotlight,all of them owned the attention which did not driven by their father’s figure as the statesman.
Part 1,2 and 3 showed the background story of Marina as the eldest child born in 1957. Her life as the PM’s daughter started when she was in her early 20’s. Starting her adulthood as a writer,she then became one of the most well-known leader in non-governmental organisation,Malaysia AIDS Foundation. This first few parts of the book basically introduced her life since childhood until adulthood. We could see that she did not mingle with her father’s entanglement in politics. She never once joined any GE campaign and involved in anything related.
However,Part 4&5 started with Bersih demonstration,she spiked as one of the loudest to voice out Malaysia’s government in 2017. Without knowing what the future might hold,Marina became her father’s strongest backbone and it was shown in GE 2018. She was there throughout every step taken by Pakatan Harapan.
Personally, I can actually relate with Marina as the eldest children in a family. As the eldest daughter,we can’t run quite far from being our own father’s mirror. I have to admit bitterly but no matter how much disagreements I might have with my father,he is my pillars or hope. And my only wish for him is all the blessings He could give and may his prayers will be with me till the day I die❤️
Also,Happy Birthday in advance ayah🙌🏻
#bookstagrammalaysia #zeereads #theappleandthetree
The Apple and The Tree
Rate: 5🌟
Thoughts 💭
This is an exposé by Marina Mahathir,living most of her life as Prime Minister’s daughter. Not to forget,her dad led this country twice in our time! In addition,I do think this book somehow cleared the stigma which most people had for her and her siblings as the children of Mahathir Mohamad. Despite avoiding the spotlight,all of them owned the attention which did not driven by their father’s figure as the statesman.
Part 1,2 and 3 showed the background story of Marina as the eldest child born in 1957. Her life as the PM’s daughter started when she was in her early 20’s. Starting her adulthood as a writer,she then became one of the most well-known leader in non-governmental organisation,Malaysia AIDS Foundation. This first few parts of the book basically introduced her life since childhood until adulthood. We could see that she did not mingle with her father’s entanglement in politics. She never once joined any GE campaign and involved in anything related.
However,Part 4&5 started with Bersih demonstration,she spiked as one of the loudest to voice out Malaysia’s government in 2017. Without knowing what the future might hold,Marina became her father’s strongest backbone and it was shown in GE 2018. She was there throughout every step taken by Pakatan Harapan.
Personally, I can actually relate with Marina as the eldest children in a family. As the eldest daughter,we can’t run quite far from being our own father’s mirror. I have to admit bitterly but no matter how much disagreements I might have with my father,he is my pillars or hope. And my only wish for him is all the blessings He could give and may his prayers will be with me till the day I die❤️
Also,Happy Birthday in advance ayah🙌🏻
#bookstagrammalaysia #zeereads #theappleandthetree
February 21, 2022
What a story. I like page 197 and above.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews