Former PM suffers mild heart attack

PM’s CONCERN: Abdullah with Mokhzani Mahathir(left) at the IJN where Dr Mahathir has beenwarded. – Bernamapic

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is recovering at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here after suffering a mild heart attack early yesterday following a Hari Raya open house party the previous night. 

The former prime minister’s condition is stable and doctors are keeping him under observation for a week. 

His son Datuk Mukhriz, who spent the morning with Dr Mahathir at the hospital, said his father was doing fine and had a light breakfast of two pieces of toast, a half-boiled egg and a hot drink. 

Just hours before complaining of chest pains, Dr Mahathir, who turned 81 on July 10, had spent Wednesday evening entertaining friends of his children at his Mines Resort City home. 

The occasion was a Raya open house jointly hosted by his eldest son Datuk Mirzan, his activist daughter Datuk Paduka Marina and Mukhriz, an Umno Youth leader, for their friends and associates. 

“He enjoyed himself chatting with the guests, including Datuk Zam (Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin),” Mukhriz said yesterday. 

Dr Mahathir was at the gathering till 11pm although he had just returned from New Zealand at about 5pm. 

“He’s okay, but he had had a punishing schedule in the past four days,” said Mukhriz. 

PARTY MOOD: (From left) Zainuddin, Dr Mahathir, Meriyam Majid and former Merbok MP DatukRosnah Majid at the Hari Raya open house held at Dr Mahathir’s house on Wednesday night.

Dr Mahathir had been in Jeddah on Nov 4 before flying home for a day to attend two functions, including the Red Ribbon Charity Gala. He then flew off to New Zealand on Nov 6. 

A statement from IJN said Dr Mahathir suffered a mild myocardial infarct and was warded at the Coronary Care Unit.  

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visited Dr Mahathir at 2.30pm yesterday. 

The Prime Minister was received by IJN chief executive officer Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus and cardiologist Dr Sanjiv Joshi, one of three doctors attending to Dr Mahathir, and ushered to the CCU on the first floor. 

Abdullah, who spent about 15 minutes at the hospital, did not speak to some 30 journalists who had gathered at the IJN lobby since late morning, but gestured to them that Dr Mahathir was asleep. 

Another of Dr Mahathir’s sons, Datuk Mokhzani, told the newsmen that his father had been given a mild sedative and was resting when the Prime Minister arrived. 

“Pak Lah did not go into the Coronary Care Unit to visit my parents, who were sleeping. He was concerned about my father’s well-being and told the doctors to make sure everything possible is done. He just spoke to me and the doctors,” he said. 

Mokhzani said his father had complained of chest discomfort at about 11.30pm on Wednesday. Doctors who examined Dr Mahathir at his house at about 3am advised that he should be warded. Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN at 4am. 

He said the doctors had told the family that Dr Mahathir was responding well to medication and that only the left side of his heart was affected. 

Asked whether Dr Mahathir might discharge himself early to attend the Umno general assembly which opens on Nov 15, Mokhzani said that would be unlikely, as rest would be the priority as advised by doctors. 

On how Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali was coping, Mokhzani said his mother was “tough”, and she had been through such situations before. 

Dr Mahathir, who had coronary artery bypass surgery in 1989, was last admitted to IJN in December last year, reportedly for three blockages in the heart. 

As in all the previous occasions, Mokhzani said, his mother would remain by his father’s side until he leaves the hospital.