Dr Mahathir In Stable Condition

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in stable condition after undergoing a five-hour coronary bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute (IJN). Read this story reported by Bernama.

Dr Mahathir In Stable Condition After Five-hour Operation

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in stable condition after undergoing a five-hour coronary bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here Tuesday.

His daughter, Datin Paduka Marina, said he is now warded at the Intensive Care Unit for post-operation observation.

"He is fine and out of the operating theatre and is now in the ICU. We are all very happy and everything went according to plan," she told reporters at the IJN lobby.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir's special officer, Sufi Yusoff, told Bernama that the surgery was carried out by a team headed by his former cardiac surgeon, Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang, ended at 2.30pm. It started at 9.30am.

Dr Mahathir, 81, first underwent a coronary bypass operation at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital on Jan 24, 1989, following a heart attack.

Marina said the family was grateful that the operation went smoothly and added that today's operation was "very much better than the one in 1989.

Her father was better prepared for the second bypass, she said.

"We know the whole country is praying....I'm extremely grateful," she said, thanking those who had sent their wishes via SMS and e-mails.