KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 13): Former two-time prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been warded at the National Heart Institute (IJN), is receiving treatment for an unspecified infection, according to a spokesperson from his office.

“Tun (Mahathir) is currently receiving treatment for infection at IJN, followed by a subsequent rest period for optimal recovery,” the spokesperson said in a brief update on Tuesday to the press.

He was admitted to the heart specialist institution nearly three weeks ago on Jan 26, according to the spokesperson.

Mahathir’s health troubles were revealed during proceedings for his civil defamation suit against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday, which were deferred due to Mahathir’s absence.

Mahathir’s lawyer Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi informed the court that his client was warded at IJN and had been advised to be on medical leave.

Mahathir has a history of heart illness, which dates back to his first heart attack in 1989 aged 64.

Following that, the former prime minister suffered two more heart attacks in 2006 and underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in 2007.

In January 2022, he successfully underwent an unspecified medical procedure at IJN but was rushed back to its cardiac care unit a week after being discharged.

He also had to be admitted to IJN for treatment after contracting Covid-19 in August 2022.

A year later, in August 2023, he was readmitted for the treatment of an infection.