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Ex-Malaysian PM Mahathir in hospital for heart surgery
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to hospital for bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack in May, the hospital said.
Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to hospital for bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack in May, the hospital said on Monday.
The 81-year-old will undergo surgery on Tuesday at Kuala Lumpur's National Heart Institute, where he was admitted on Sunday.
His son Mokhzani Mahathir told the New Straits Times newspaper that his father had decided to wait for surgery until after Friday's celebrations marking the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.
"He is all right and preparing for the operation," Mokhzani said.
Mahathir led Malaysia for two decades before handing power to the current premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2003. He was last seen in public at the independence day party, waving the Malaysian flag.
The former prime minister was rushed to hospital in May after suffering his second heart attack. Mahathir had a first heart attack, followed by bypass surgery, in 1989. He also had a mild stroke in November last year.
