Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur for observation, two days after the death of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Mahathir, 101, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night, according to his office. He is being monitored by doctors, although the specific reason for his admission has not yet been disclosed. His aide, Sufi Yusoff, said the family was awaiting the doctors’ diagnosis.
His son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, told Bernama that the past two days had been particularly difficult for his father physically and emotionally following the death of Siti Hasmah. However, he said Mahathir’s condition is currently stable and there is no immediate cause for concern.
Mahathir was admitted to IJN just one day after Siti Hasmah died at the same hospital at the age of 100. She died on Monday morning after her condition deteriorated following a heart attack and was buried later that day at Pusara Negara in Putrajaya.
The couple had been married for 70 years and had seven children. Mahathir remained alongside his wife during her final funeral rites, attending the janazah at As-Syarif Mosque in Seri Kembangan before accompanying her remains to Pusara Negara.
Mahathir’s health has required hospital treatment several times in recent years. In January this year, he was treated for around three weeks after suffering a fracture to his pelvic bone following a fall at home. Due to his age, he did not undergo surgery and was subsequently seen using a motorised wheelchair.
He was also treated for a lung infection in October 2024 and previously underwent bypass surgeries in 1989 and 2007.
Mahathir served as Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020, becoming one of the country’s longest-serving prime ministers. During his first tenure, Malaysia experienced substantial industrialisation and economic development.
He also adopted measures during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s that included rejecting an International Monetary Fund bailout and introducing capital controls, policies that remain an important part of the economic history of his administration.
Following Siti Hasmah’s death, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and leaders from several countries sent condolences to Mahathir and his family.
The latest reports say Mahathir remains under observation at IJN, with further details on his condition expected following the doctors’ assessment.
