Malaysia’s ex-PM Mahathir hospitalised with hip fracture after fall at home
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Dr Mahathir Mohamad was taken to hospital on Jan 6 after a fall at his residence.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s 100-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is being treated for a hip fracture after falling on Jan 6, with his daughter saying the injury was serious but “not dangerous”.
Tun Dr Mahathir has suffered health problems in recent years and was previously hospitalised for fatigue after a picnic celebration for his centenary
He was taken conscious by ambulance to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur earlier on Jan 6 after the fall, aide Sufi Yusoff told AFP.
“It is serious, but it’s not dangerous. For his age, everything is relative... he’s fine,” his daughter Marina Mahathir was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.
“Dad’s okay, but hip fractures are always a pain regardless of how old you are,” she told AFP.
“At 100, any fall, any fracture is bad... so it will take time to heal,” she added.
In a statement, Mr Sufi said that “after medical assessment, it has been confirmed that Tun (Mahathir) suffered a fracture to the right hip”.
The former premier “is expected to be admitted for the next few weeks for treatment and observation”, Mr Sufi added.
“He fell transiting from one part of the balcony to the living room,” according to Mr Sufi.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail prayed for Dr Mahathir’s recovery.
“Azizah and I pray for Tun’s (Mahathir’s) well-being and speedy recovery, God willing,” Datuk Seri Anwar said in a Facebook post.
Dr Mahathir, Mr Anwar’s mentor-turned-political rival, has previously undergone bypass operations for heart problems.
He was prime minister from 1981 until 2003, and again from 2018 to 2020.
He reached the age of 94 during his second stint, and was the world’s oldest elected leader at the time. AFP
