Item 1 of 2 Malaysian Caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob gestures during his campaign rally, a day before the 15th general election in Bera, Pahang, Malaysia November 18, 2022.

In his first, 22-year stretch as prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad transformed Malaysia’s economy. But he was also accused of being a strongman and antisemite. In an interview, he offers a self ...