Marina: Dr M interacted with family

KUALA LUMPUR: As Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to receive treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN), his daughter says the former prime minister has interacted with his family members.

“Dr Mahathir is still being treated at IJN. We, as a family, have interacted with him,” his eldest child, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, said in a statement yesterday.

On behalf of her mother Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Marina said their family thanked everyone in and outside the country as well as people of various faiths for their prayers and well wishes for her dad’s speedy recovery.

Marina also urged the public not to spread false news regarding the 96-year-old chairman of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.

“Don’t address rumours spread by unverified sources.

“The IJN and Dr Mahathir’s family will issue statements from time to time and once again, we would like to thank all,” she said.

For the second day, media practitioners staked out in front of the hospital following news of Dr Mahathir’s readmission. They persisted despite it raining in the morning and evening, and waited for the latest update to the veteran leader’s health status.

In a brief statement on Saturday, Marina said that Dr Mahathir was in a stable condition and responding well to treatment since being readmitted on Jan 20 for a follow- up to a successful elective procedure.

The nonagenarian was admitted to IJN on Jan 7 for the procedure, which was conducted the next day. He was discharged on Jan 13.

The latest was his third stay at the hospital in recent weeks.

On Dec 16, he was admitted and underwent a series of medical investigations before being discharged on Dec 23.

The Langkawi MP had undergone two heart bypass operations – in 1989 and 2007.

He performed two stints as Malaysia’s chief executive – for 22 years between 1981 and 2003; and 22 months between 2018 and 2020.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa had asked the public to pray for Dr Mahathir’s speedy recovery while urging them not to spread any news regarding the leader’s health condition unless it was based on official sources such as the family or hospital.

“Please respect the current situation of Tun Dr Mahathir’s family,” he said in a Twitter post yesterday.