Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been moved out of intensive care as he continues to make a speedy recovery from a heart attack, his son said Saturday. "He has progressed tremendously and has been moved to a normal ward in just two days," Mokhzani Mahathir told AFP.
The 81-year-old Mahathir later told reporters that he wanted to rest and confirmed that he would not attend the annual gathering of the ruling party he led for 22 years. "I want to rest. I hope the assembly goes well," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.
"I have to rest for at least three weeks for the (heart) condition to recuperate. I do not want to think of anything else," he added. The ruling United Malays National Organisation will hold its annual gathering next week where Mahathir had been expected to come under attack following his feud with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Bernama said Mahathir looked "weak" during the interview.
Mahathir was taken to the National Heart Institute Thursday after suffering a mild heart attack. The ex-premier previously suffered a heart attack in 1989 and had bypass surgery.
Mokhzani said doctors were satisfied with Mahathir's response to medication but his father had been kept away from political news. "We have kept him away from subjects in the news and anything that may get him excited," he said. "I just want him to rest and I don't want him to get agitated," he added.
Mahathir's heart attack has been blamed on "excessive travelling" after recent visits to Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. Mahathir handed over power to Abdullah in October 2003. The two men are embroiled in a bitter dispute, with Mahathir accusing the current premier of economic mismanagement, corruption andnepotism - charges Abdullah has repeatedly denied.