Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not undergo surgery for a fractured hip due to his advanced age, his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said on Wednesday.
In a video statement, Mukhriz said the 100-year-old fractured his hip after falling during his routine morning exercise on the balcony of his home. Dr Mahathir was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday following the incident.
According to medical advice from IJN, Mukhriz said his father is expected to remain hospitalised for two to three weeks.
“Because of his age, surgery is not considered a wise option,” Mukhriz said, adding that his father’s recovery would take time.
He also thanked the public for their concern and well wishes, and appealed for privacy to allow Dr Mahathir to rest and recover.
“I ask everyone to give space for Tun Dr Mahathir to recuperate as quickly as possible,” he said, speaking from the Parti Pejuang office in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir’s daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir described the injury as serious but not life-threatening.
“For someone his age, everything is relative… he’s fine,” she told reporters.
Dr Mahathir was conscious when he was taken to IJN. His press secretary Sufi Yusoff confirmed that the former prime minister has previously undergone at least two major heart surgeries, including a quadruple bypass in 2007.
