Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is showing signs of recovery, with his ability to speak and appetite returning, according to his daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
Marina, his eldest daughter, said her father was becoming more active and energetic compared with two weeks ago, particularly following the death of his wife, Tun Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali.
“He is getting healthier. He can speak and wants to eat. So, it can be said that he is almost back to how he was before,” she said.
However, Mahathir remains under treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) and has yet to be cleared to return home.
Marina was speaking to reporters after a tahlil prayer ceremony for the late Hasmah at the Perdana Leadership Foundation (YKP) today.
Asked how the family was coping with Hasmah’s death, Marina said it had been difficult to accept the loss, even though they had begun coming to terms with it.
“We accepted her passing from the beginning, although it was difficult at first. After all, it has only been two weeks. It is still hard to believe that she is no longer with us,” she said, holding back tears.
Marina also expressed her gratitude to members of the public who had visited her mother’s grave at the National Heroes’ Mausoleum in Precinct 20.
“Every time I visit the grave, I see many people coming to recite Surah Yasin and scatter flowers.
“Our family is grateful for their prayers and for those who come to visit. I know some have travelled from far away. It shows how much they loved my mother,” she said.
She added that she was deeply touched by the public’s continued prayers and visits to her mother’s resting place.
Asked what she missed most about Hasmah, Marina said she missed every moment they had shared.
“Everything. Sometimes, I did not see her every day. But there were times when I wanted to ask her something, leave her a message or share a story with her.
“Then I would realise that I could no longer do any of those things. That is the hardest part for me to go through,” she said.
More than 200 people attended the tahlil ceremony, including Mahathir’s sons Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Other notable attendees included former AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) president Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ali and former minister Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Mohd Yunus.
