Tun Mahathir dead, Malaysia's ex-PM Mahathir 'responding well' - Mahathir Mohamad passed away?

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is in stable condition after being treated at the National Heart Institute (IJN), his daughter said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 22).

Marina Mahathir said her 96-year-old father had been readmitted and treated for two days after undergoing elective medical procedures in early January.

“Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali (his wife) and family ask people to pray for his speedy and full recovery,” Marina said.

Members of the media flocked to the hospital as news broke that the Langkawi MP had been admitted to the institute’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU).

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri also arrived at IJN on Saturday night, where he met Dr Mahathir’s wife Dr Siti Hasmah.

“I ask all Malaysians to pray to Allah for a speedy recovery and recovery of Dr Mahathir,” he said in a Facebook post.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was admitted to the country’s premier heart hospital for the third time in a month, but his daughter said Saturday (Jan 22) that his condition was stable.

“Dr Mahathir has been undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) for the past two days following a successful elective surgery on January 8, 2022,” Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir said.

“His condition is now stable and responding well to treatment,” she said in a brief statement.

A spokesman for Dr Mahathir’s office told The Straits Times that the 96-year-old was being monitored at a heart care centre.

But the official could not comment on the seriousness of his health, and he was checked into the IJN on Dec. 16 for an “investigation” ahead of unspecified election proceedings earlier this month.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob visited his predecessor at 5.35pm, fueling earlier rumours that Dr Mahathir was in critical condition.

Dr Mahathir served as Prime Minister of Malaysia for a total of nearly 24 years in two different terms, leading the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan (PH) governments. He is the country’s longest-serving prime minister.

He has a history of heart disease and has had three heart attacks – one in 1989 and two in 2006.

He underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2007.

Dr Mahathir remains active in politics, leading his own opposition party, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, and serving as MP for the Langkawi constituency in Kedah.

Dr Mahathir was last admitted to the IJN in 2018 for a chest infection before being admitted to hospital last month.