Mahathir undergoing medical investigations at heart institute

Malaysia's longest-serving former premier Mahathir Mohamad is undergoing several medical investigations at the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), or National Heart Institute.

Tun Dr Mahathir "is currently undergoing several investigations which shall be completed in the next few days", IJN said in a statement yesterday.

"He shall remain in IJN till then," it said, adding that no visitors were allowed.

No further details were given.

Dr Mahathir, 96, previously the world's oldest prime minister, was admitted to IJN in Kuala Lumpur at 7pm on Thursday.

"He shall be undergoing a full medical check-up and further observation," the institute had said late that day.

The former premier has a history of heart ailments. He has had three heart attacks - one in 1989 and two in 2006 - and has undergone quadruple bypass surgery. He has periodically been admitted to IJN for check-ups over the years.

Dr Mahathir served nearly 24 years in total as Malaysia's prime minister over two separate terms, leading the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan (PH) administrations. He last served as premier from 2018 to early last year, when the PH government collapsed due to his resignation and mass defections from his then party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

He is the Member of Parliament for the Langkawi constituency in his home state of Kedah, and chairman of the opposition Parti Pejuang Tanah Air Malaysia.