Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad back in heart hospital as corruption probe circles sons

News of his hospitalisation came after his lawyer, Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, told a Kuala Lumpur court that his ageing client is unable to attend a defamation hearing as he has been admitted to the National Heart Institute since January 26.

His treatment was confirmed by his aide Sufi Yusoff, without giving further details on his condition. He has been given a medical leave until next week.

It is the latest hospital stay for the nonagenarian after he was admitted in August last year.

11:20

The legacy of Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal on politics and corruption-fighting

Mahathir, who first served as premier for 22 years from 1981 and then again in 2018 after beating Najib at the polls, was last seen in public at a press conference on January 22.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) expanded its probe to include Mahathir’s second son Mokhzani, instructing the brothers to file asset declarations that go back to 1981, when Mahathir first became prime minister.

In a joint statement last week, the brothers pleaded for patience from the MACC, saying their demand amounts to “an impossible endeavour”.