KUALA LUMPUR: Born on July 10 in 1925, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad turns 97 today.

The first person to wish him will be his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali–just as she has every year for the past six decades.

“Sometimes I forget about my birthday but I am always reminded about it with a birthday card from my wife,” he told Astro Awani in an exclusive interview.

“She is born two days later, so once she gives me the card I will start to prepare for July 12.”

Coincidentally, Mahathir’s birthday falls on Hari Raya Aidiladha this year, which means Muslims around the world will be participating in the festivities along with him.

“I am grateful. It is as if the entire world is celebrating my birthday,” he chuckled.

Even with festivities underway, it is business as usual for the former prime minister and he will spend the day dedicated to his work.

“I have never stopped working. Even after I retired, I go to the office and I work. Even on my birthday, I work normally,” he said. “The day of my birth is not any different from other days.”

At his office in Putrajaya, he remains focused on matters surrounding the country and rarely makes calls to his family.

“Sometimes when there are issues related to politics, I will speak to my son Mukhriz about it. I do not use the phone because I don’t find it satisfying to speak for long.

“I prefer to speak to people face-to-face so I can talk about things in more detail.”

Still, Mahathir always makes time for his loved ones. While all seven of his children have left the nest, the entire family meets often for dinner.

When it comes to spending time with his grandchildren, the topic of politics is off the table.

“I talk about other things that they are interested in. They live in a different world, almost. My world is an old world,” he joked.

“Their world is all about new technologies, new communications and all that. They are always contacting each other because it’s easy with the phone. So, it’s seldom that they phone me, but they do come into the house.”

Just three years shy of being a century old, Mahathir remains grateful for his health, mobility and ability to get out of bed without difficulty.

“This is something one must be thankful for because when we are able to wake up in the morning, it means we live to see another day.”