A NEW book on former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad has hit the bookshelves. Written by veteran Australian journalist Barry Wain, Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad In Turbulent Times takes a critical look at how Tun Dr Mahathir led Malaysia as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

In his book launched on Dec 4, the author credits Dr Mahathir with engineering Malaysia's economic growth. But with fast-paced growth came problems such as huge investment losses. It was also under his leadership that the ruling Umno evolved from a political party to one with huge stakes in business.

Mr Wain, 65, a former editor with the Asian Wall Street Journal who is now based at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said he had put his findings to Dr Mahathir in three face-to-face interviews, and also spoke to other party leaders.

Many of the stories had been reported in the past, he said, adding: 'I just tried to look at them more thoroughly and put them all together and put a figure on it.'

So far, Dr Mahathir has yet to comment on the book, which has not been released in Malaysia yet.

'I don't know,' said Mr Wain with a chuckle, when asked how he thought the main subject of his 363-page book would respond. 'He's got a very popular blog going and I don't know whether to wish to be denounced or ignored. We'll have to see.'

Some 2,500 hard-cover copies of the book, which is published by Palgrave Macmillan, have been printed. It is selling well in Singapore, with a third run being printed, Mr Wain told The Straits Times yesterday.