Queen Elizabeth laughed at my 'Commonwealth' joke, recalls Dr M

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad remembers an incident where the late Queen Elizabeth laughed at one of his jokes he made in his speech which was broadcast by the BBC on the occasion of her golden jubilee in 2002.

"In Zimbabwe, I made a speech in which I pointed out that what is said in English is not what is meant.

"Thus the presiding officer in Parliament is called Mr Speaker, but he may not speak.

The Malay sultans are called the rulers but they may not rule. The British adviser ruled.

"Then there is the British Commonwealth where the wealth is not common.

"The Queen laughed," Dr Mahathir wrote.

The former prime minister said he did not expect the Queen to pass away so suddenly.

"She was only one year younger than me," the 97-year-old said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. (Sept 13)

Dr Mahathir said he fondly recalled his interaction with the late Queen, especially during meetings of the British Commonwealth.

He also said that the Queen visited Malaysia twice when he was prime minister.

"Once when we hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and once during the Commonwealth Games.

"The Queen was always gracious and hosting her was a pleasure," he added.

Dr Mahathir said he was saddened at the Queen's passing, noting that she was a good example of a constitutional monarch.

"Her passing away is a loss not just to the British but to people who believe in the rule of law.

"May she rest in peace," he added.

On Sept 8, Queen Elizabeth II, 96, the longest-serving British monarch, passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.