Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not been allowed to return home and remains under treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) following a fall at his residence earlier this month.
His press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, confirmed that Dr Mahathir only made a brief outing today to a café at Pavilion Bukit Damansara, where he spent some time enjoying a drink before being brought back to IJN for continued treatment.
Sufi said the outing marked Dr Mahathir’s first time outside since being admitted to IJN, during which he chose an iced chocolate. He spent about 40 minutes at the café before returning to the institute.
“Dr Mahathir is still not permitted to return home and will continue receiving treatment at IJN,” Sufi said in a media statement.
Earlier, photos of Dr Mahathir at the café had circulated on social media. Sufi clarified that the former Langkawi MP was accompanied by IJN medical officers, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and IJN Chief Executive Officer Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib.
Sufi added that visits remain restricted to immediate family members only.
Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN on 6 January for treatment and rehabilitation after a fall at his residence in The Mines, which resulted in a fracture to his right hip.
