Malaysia’s former PM Mahathir Mohamad undergoes successful ‘elective medical procedure’

The 96-year-old former PM was admitted to Malaysia’s National Heart Institute on Friday – the second time in as many months that he has been hospitalised

The institute said Mahathir, who has a history of heart problems, had an elective medical procedure that was ‘uneventful and went as planned’

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Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s former prime minister. Photo: Bloomberg

Reutersin Kuala Lumpur

Published: 3:55pm, 9 Jan 2022Updated: 4:46pm, 9 Jan 2022

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 96, successfully underwent an “elective medical procedure” and is expected to be discharged in a few days, the National Heart Institute said on Sunday.

“The procedure was uneventful and went as planned,” the institute said in a statement.

Mahathir was admitted into the institute in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, the second time in as many months that he has been hospitalised.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad. File photo: AP

Mahathir has a history of heart problems and was admitted on December 16 before being discharged a week later. He had his first heart bypass in 1989 and the second one in 2007.

Mahathir first assumed power in 1981 and became the longest-serving prime minister when he retired 22 years later in 2003. In 2018, he joined forces with the opposition and stunningly dethroned the long-ruling National Front coalition.

He made history by becoming the prime minister for a second time at 92. However, his tenure was brief as his government collapsed in less than two years due to political defections.