KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who recently celebrated his centennial birthday, is undergoing medical treatment at the National Heart Institute after sustaining a fractured hip during a morning exercise session. The nonagenarian statesman was admitted on Tuesday following an accidental fall at his residence.
Medical authorities have determined that surgical intervention is not advisable given Mahathir’s advanced age, opting instead for a conservative treatment approach that will require several weeks of hospitalization for monitoring and recovery. His daughter Marina Mahathir provided reassurance regarding her father’s condition, stating that while the injury presents serious concerns for a patient of his age, it does not constitute a life-threatening situation.
The incident occurred during Mahathir’s regular brisk walking routine, according to family members. This latest health episode adds to the former leader’s medical history, which includes significant cardiac events requiring multiple bypass surgeries throughout his lifetime.
Despite retiring from active politics, Mahathir remains one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent political figures. His unprecedented two-term leadership spanned from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020, during which he achieved the distinction of being the world’s oldest serving head of government. The former prime minister has previously attributed his longevity to maintaining both physical activity and mental engagement, famously remarking that he strives to live as if he weren’t aging.