16-10-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a titan of Southeast Asian politics, has been admitted to hospital due to a respiratory infection, his office confirmed on Wednesday. The news came to light after the 99-year-old statesman was notably absent from a scheduled court hearing in a defamation case he had initiated.
Dr Mahathir, who has been a dominant figure in Malaysian politics for over half a century, was taken to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening. An aide close to the former premier disclosed to Reuters that he was suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection, manifesting as a persistent cough. The medical team has advised a period of rest and recuperation, with Dr Mahathir expected to be on medical leave until 25 October.
This latest health setback adds to a series of hospital admissions in recent years for the nonagenarian leader, who has a well-documented history of cardiac issues. Dr Mahathir has undergone multiple bypass surgeries throughout his life, with his most recent hospitalisation occurring in July of this year.
The court hearing that Dr Mahathir was due to attend pertained to a defamation case he had filed against the current Deputy Prime Minister. Local media outlets reported that the proceedings were postponed after Dr Mahathir’s legal representative informed the court of his client’s hospitalisation.
Dr Mahathir’s political career has been nothing short of remarkable. He first served as Prime Minister for an unprecedented 22 years, stepping down in 2003. In a stunning political comeback, he returned to the premiership in 2018 at the age of 92, leading an opposition coalition to a historic victory. However, his second tenure was short-lived, with his government collapsing after less than two years due to internal strife.
Despite facing defeat in the 2022 general election, Dr Mahathir has remained an active and often controversial voice in Malaysian politics.
