Dr Mahathir transferred to normal ward

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is showing further improvement in health and was transferred from the coronary care unit at the National Heart Institute (IJN) to a normal ward room today, his family says.

His eldest child Marina Mahathir also said that he was cheerful and eager to make a full recovery.

Mahathir was readmitted to IJN early last week after undergoing an elective procedure on Jan 7.

He was previously admitted to IJN in December, when doctors said they were conducting a series of tests on the 96-year-old veteran leader.

In a statement today, Marina said the team of specialists treating her father had said that he was on the mend.

But in order to prevent any infection, she said, neither Mahathir nor his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali were allowed to receive visitors at IJN.