Dr Mahathir moves out of ICU

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was moved out of the Intensive Care Unit to a regular ward yesterday. The former prime minister had spent nine days in the ICU following a second coronary bypass on Sept 4.

He was moved to the Bunga Raya ward at the National Heart Institute (IJN) as doctors were happy with his progress so far.

A statement from the hospital said Dr Mahathir, 82, was able to walk unaided and was on a normal diet.

The IJN, however, is still limiting his visitors to immediate family members to reduce the risk of post-operative infection.
IJN’s medical director Datuk Seri Dr Robaayah Zambahari said they would continue to monitor Dr Mahathir in the normal ward.

"From now on it will be total rehabilitation," she told the New Straits Times.

"He is a very determined person who wants to recover fast," she said, adding that IJN’s Dietetics and Food Services senior manager Mary Easaw-John was taking charge of Dr Mahathir’s diet.