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Ex-Malaysian PM has heart attack | Ex-Malaysian PM has heart attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is in hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. | Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is in hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. |
The 81-year-old is reported to be in a stable condition and will remain in hospital in Kuala Lumpur for the next few days. | The 81-year-old is reported to be in a stable condition and will remain in hospital in Kuala Lumpur for the next few days. |
Dr Mahathir was Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, having spent 22 years in office before his retirement in 2003. | |
He still wields considerable influence on domestic politics and business. | He still wields considerable influence on domestic politics and business. |
More recently, he has been in a political scrap with his chosen successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, whom he accuses of corruption, nepotism and mismanaging the economy. | |
Controversial figure | |
Dr Mahathir was admitted to the National Heart Institute in the early hours of Thursday, hospital officials said. | |
"He had a mild heart attack late last night, early this morning," Dr Mahathir's son Mokhzani Mahathir told Reuters news agency. | |
"He is under observation, the condition is stable. The doctors gave some medication. He is likely to remain in hospital for a few days." | |
The heart attack happened shortly after Dr Mahathir returned from a trip to New Zealand. | |
"He had been a travelling a lot ... He had quite a hectic schedule and he ate too much," Mokhzani Mahathir said. | |
Dr Mahathir, a former medical doctor, underwent heart bypass surgery in 1989 and has been receiving regular check-ups since then. | |
Although a controversial figure abroad for his barbed comments about the West and scant regard for human rights, at home Dr Mahathir is considered the father of modern Malaysia. | |
During his time in office, he helped transform Malaysia from a mainly rural economy into an Asian economic tiger. | |
Despite promising not to interfere when he retired three years ago, Dr Mahathir has launched a series of stinging attacks on his hand-picked successor in recent months. | |
Analysts say he has been angered by changes introduced by Abdullah Badawi that appear to be partially dismantling his legacy. |
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