The self-taught tailor had many customers who would often be dropped off in front of the store by their chauffeurs but never in a police car.

A man got out and walked into Loh’s shop. He introduced himself as the prime minister’s aide de camp.

“He said the prime minister wanted some suits tailored and he wanted me to make them,” Loh, the founder of Lord’s Tailor, told FMT.

Loh quickly grabbed his tape measure and was whisked away in the patrol car to the prime minister’s office.

“I was nervous. After all, this was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister of Malaysia.”

It was the year 1987. Mahathir was in his first stint as prime minister. He had got to know of Loh’s work after seeing his son-in-law in a suit made by Loh.

“Apparently, Tun was impressed with his son-in-law’s suit,” says the tailor modestly.

While taking the statesman’s measurements and chatting that day, Loh was equally impressed.

“I was surprised because it became obvious he knew a lot about fashion and materials.”

From then on, Loh became the prime minister’s fourth and last tailor. 32 years later, he is still measuring the now-returned PM.

Loh, now 74, said that Mahathir, 20 years his senior, continues to impress him with his sense of fashion.

“Tun knows the latest trends and he is very decisive. He knows exactly what type of style and material he wants. This makes it very easy for me as I simply have to take the measurements.”

When Loh first made suits for Mahathir in the 1980s, he preferred broad-shouldered suits and padded safari suits.

“These days suits with a natural shoulder are in fashion so he follows that trend. It’s the same with his trousers. He asks for the latest slim look.”

Mahathir requests suits on an as-needed basis, especially when he is about to travel overseas.

Loh says there are times when he has recommended designs, he felt Mahathir would look good in, most notably a Nehru-collar suit, inspired by what India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru used to wear.

“It was for Tun’s birthday, and I had made a Nehru jacket for him. At first he was hesitant to wear it, but after trying it once, he loved it because it’s comfortable and you don’t have to wear a tie.”

After that, he said, many people wanted to wear Nehru jackets and they became a popular choice for bridegrooms.

In that sense, Loh said, Mahathir wasn’t just a follower of trends but also a trendsetter.

Loh said he usually spends half an hour taking Mahathir’s measurements and then leaves, but on rare occasions when the statesman has a moment to spare, he is sometimes invited to have tea with him.

Over the years, Loh says he has become friends with Mahathir, but they never talk about politics, always preferring to talk about fashion.

He often reminds Mahathir to take it easy but the PM always tells him that he simply cannot do that as there is too much work to do.

Looking at Tun’s work rate, Loh is inspired. This is why he himself continues to work seven-days-a-week rather than retire from tailoring.

Mahathir, he added, is always thinking of the country and not only pushes himself but others around him.

“Tun once asked me why Malaysian clothing companies don’t get into the ready-made sector catering to the masses. He said it would be a good business. I told him we could do it, but our branding isn’t as strong as the famous European and American companies.”

Loh took Mahathir’s words as a challenge and started a ready-made line called Lord’s, a big accomplishment for someone who picked up his skills by observing tailors making suits in Malayan Mansion and Selangor Mansion.

Loh became professionally trained in 1975 at London’s famous Tailor and Cutter Academy.

To this now distinguished tailor, Mahathir isn’t just a client, but someone he wants to emulate.

“Even though he is the prime minister, Tun pays for his own clothes. He always insists on paying with a personal cheque.

“Tun always tells me that I cannot give him any free suits because he is the PM and it would not be right for him to accept gifts.”