Singapore Edition: Mahathir's 100 years

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This week, Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain takes you behind the scenes at her interview with the legendary Mahathir Mohamad, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday, Gabrielle Ng asks students how university finance clubs help them to get hired, and Katrina Nicholas tastes NYC Latin vibes in Stanley Street.

Mahathir Mohamad's 100 Years

I did not know what to expect as we waited for Dr. Mahathir in an upstairs room of his Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya. Even though he still travels, records podcasts and is active in other ways, an interview with someone who can look back on an entire century of life was a first for me.

I was so deep in thought, head bowed, that I did not hear the former Malaysian prime minister walk into the room, and leapt to my feet when I realized he was standing right by the table. Within moments we had begun recording, and, over the next 30 minutes, we moved from history to the present day, from war to peace, from tariffs to affirmative action, and from Donald Trump to Nelson Mandela.

Click to listen to Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain's interview with Mahathir Mohamad

I found him forthright, undimmed, rarely hesitating before an answer, but able to skirt and deflect when he felt the need. I asked which of his contemporaries he admired, and whether he envied how Lee Kuan Yew had made Singapore one of the wealthiest nations in the world. (On this there was one word before he moved on: "No.") There was advice about how to age as he has: "You do not get fat, and you do some exercise, and keep your brain busy. Thinking, talking, discussing, writing, reading."

And, on President Trump, he did not hold back. "His strategy is wrong," he said of this period when Malaysia, like so many countries, is being threatened with ever-higher tariffs. "It's going to damage America more than the rest of the world."

Mahathir Mohamad at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya. Photographer: Ian Teh/Bloomberg

Mahathir's life and career has not been without its controversies, and missteps, but it is rare to speak to someone who has seen so much history play out, including witnessing the Japanese invasion and occupation of what was then Malaya during World War II. Two days after we met I was in Singapore, and decided to go to the Old Ford Factory to see for myself where the Allied surrender took place. I stood in front of the distinctive facade of that historic building, and inside the boardroom where the Japanese and the British met.

Almost everyone who can remember that time is gone now, but it is, along with so much else, part of Mahathir's life experience. How does he feel about being nearly the last of his generation, I asked him. "It's a little bit frightening," he admitted. "It means that you are very near the time when you are — well — no more."

This much was clear to me: for as long as he is able, he will continue to talk about the way he sees the world. "I don't think you've made life easy for your successors by continuing to speak as you do," I told him as he wrapped up. He smiled. "Life is never easy, for anyone." And with that it was out onto the balcony for photographs, standing patiently for as long as we needed him, and off to his next meeting. —Mishal Husain

Mishal Husain's weekly interviews will launch as a visual podcast on Bloomberg.com, YouTube, and audio platforms later this year.

Weekend Catch-Up

A selection of the best of Bloomberg storytelling, from podcasts and video to explainers and feature stories.

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Singapore's 240,000 millionaires spur spending on luxury brands
Temasek's divestments hit record, portfolio at S$434 billion ($339 billion)
Vietnam surprised by Trump tariff decision, seeks lower rate

Watch:

Why Vietnam Had to Make a Deal With Trump. Bloomberg

Avril Hong explains what Trump's tariff letters mean for Asian economies

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Bloomberg Tech: Musk says Grok to make Tesla debut
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Campus Business Clubs

Singaporeans grow up with constant reminders that academic grades spell out who we are and chart what we'll do for the rest of our lives. So many of us thought straight As would be the key to a coveted career in the glassy towers downtown. It turns out, top marks have become quite common, and just aren't good enough any longer.

Now, some enterprising students have come up with a new strategy to stand out above the horde of graduates wielding first-class honors: form exclusive campus finance or business clubs that simulate investment, banking and consulting firms to fortify your resume.

Aspiring bankers at Singapore Management University hold meetings for their own fund on campus. Source: Shannon Chong

Flagging growth in the city's finance jobs has sharpened competition among students to get into the clubs. Some choose members after extensive interviews that emulate the real world of finance. The process could include "coffee chats" with club leaders and even two-day bootcamps to evaluate applicants while they learn core consulting skills such as structuring presentation slides, telling coherent stories and crunching data to support their narratives.

Most banks and recruiters surveyed by Bloomberg said the clubs are only one part of holistic criteria used to evaluate entry-level applicants.

For Dylan Liew, 30, the founder of a consulting club at the National University of Singapore, it was "a good story" to tell recruiters and interviewers. It showed "I can tackle things, I can build a business model, and have this kind of business acumen," he said. —Gabrielle Ng

The Review: Cudo

From the best spots for a business lunch to drinks with the boss, we sample the city's eateries, bars and new experiences.

Brought to you by the team behind Siri House in Dempsey Hill, Cudo is a tiny Latin American restaurant tucked into a shophouse along Stanley Street in the CBD. As Cudo's website proclaims, the food draws from communities in the New York neighborhoods of Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Corona, where tacos, tortas and elotes reign supreme.

The vibe. Warm and inviting. The stuccoed walls are adorned with a mishmash of paintings, photos and prints, interspersed with gilt-edged mirrors, potted ferns and mismatched chairs. A pretty backlit bar at the rear rounds the overall effect: effortlessly cool but welcoming at the same time.

Cudo restaurant entrance. Photographer: Nikko Pascua

Can you conduct a meeting here? The tables are very squeezy, barely a stretched palm's distance apart, meaning servers need to lean in and across to deliver and remove plates. On the Saturday night I went, the decibel levels made it hard to hear conversations on other tables, but if there were fewer people, privacy could be an issue.

What about a romantic dinner? Yes, for sure. It's a stylishly intimate setting and if nothing else, the lively atmosphere makes for good people watching.

What we'd order again. The Cudo Cado is the unofficial opening act at nearly every table and why mess with a hit? It's Cudo's take on guacamole, punched up with seeds, yuzu, cotija cheese and smoky chipotle, served with plantain chips. The snapper crudo is super citrusy with its lime and salt cure and sweet pops of green grapes. The stuffed carnedilla is also good value, at S$12 for a cheesy, rich flour tortilla stuffed with braised short ribs.

A selection of dishes at CUDO restaurant. Photographer: Nikko Pascua

Need to know. Cudo is at 12 Stanley Street. It's open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with last food orders at 10 p.m. Closed on Sundays. Dinner for two costs around S$100 without alcohol. —Katrina Nicholas

Have a place you'd like us to review or feedback to share? Get in touch at [email protected].

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