Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir hospitalized a day after his wife passed away... "Condition stable"

Sadness and fatigue at Mrs. Hasuma's death after 70 years... condition stable

(Hanoi = Yonhap News) Correspondent Park Jin-hyung = Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (101), who served as Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, was hospitalized the day after his wife passed away.

According to former Prime Minister Mahathir's spokesman Sufi Yusof on the 30th (local time), he was hospitalized at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur the night before.

The specific reason for hospitalization was not disclosed. However, Sufi revealed that former Prime Minister Mahathir did not get enough rest after his wife, Siti Hasma, passed away on the 28th.

“His condition is stable,” he said, but added, “He is very exhausted due to emotional ups and downs, hot weather and lack of rest. It is never good for a 101-year-old to have these factors combined.”

Former Prime Minister Mahathir's son, Mokjani Mahathir, also told Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency that his father had had a very difficult time over the past two days, but said, "But he is fine now and there is no cause for concern."

Mrs. Hasma, a doctor and public health activist, was married to former Prime Minister Mahathir for 70 years and had seven children. He passed away on the 28th at the age of 100.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir, who attended his wife's funeral in an electric wheelchair, appeared unable to hide his shock and sadness, showing tears and saying, "I had no idea my wife would pass away today. She was quite healthy until last night."

Former Prime Minister Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia for about 24 years from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020, earned the title of 'world's oldest national leader' during his second term in office at the age of 93.

He has been in and out of the hospital frequently in recent years, having suffered several heart attacks. Last January, he was hospitalized with a right hip fracture due to a fall, but later recovered and resumed his public activities.