Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad discharged from hospital

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been discharged from hospital after being admitted for COVID-19, his office said.

Mahathir, admitted to the National Heart Institute on Wednesday after testing positive for the coronavirus, will remain quarantined at home until Tuesday, the statement on Sunday said.

The 97-year-old, who served for more than 20 years as prime minister and is still an active legislator, has a history of heart trouble, he has had heart attacks and bypass surgeries.

He has received at least three doses of the COVID vaccine, the last known shot in November 2021, according to earlier comments from him and government officials.

The nonagenarian, a trained physician, underwent an elective medical procedure in January and was readmitted to the hospital later that month for treatment.

The National Heart Institute did not say at the time what procedure he had undergone.

After serving as prime minister for 22 years until 2003, Mahathir returned as premier at the age of 92 in 2018 after leading the opposition coalition to a historic win, defeating the party that he had once led.

His government collapsed in less than two years due to infighting.