AT 73, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamed is a true survivor. On July 1, when he completed 17 years in power, he had just staved off the latest challenger to the throne—his 52-year-old deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir clings on but perhaps faces his worst times ahead, what with the ringgit's collapse and growing criticism of his policies vis-avis international aid agencies, and particularly the US.