TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad is making progress in his recovery, regaining his appetite and becoming more active, but remains at the National Heart Institute (IJN) and is not yet ready to return home.
His eldest daughter, Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir, said the former prime minister’s condition had improved compared with two weeks ago, as he continued to receive treatment following the death of his wife, Tun Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali.
“He is getting healthier, he can talk, he wants to eat. So, it can be said that he is almost back to how he was before,” she said.
“He is a little more active and more spirited. He is still receiving treatment at IJN and cannot be allowed to return home yet,” she told reporters at a tahlil prayer gathering for Dr Siti Hasmah at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.
Marina also spoke of the family’s continuing grief, saying it remained difficult to accept that Dr Siti Hasmah had died just two weeks ago.
“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 here,” she said, fighting back tears.
She thanked members of the public who had visited her mother’s grave at the National Mausoleum in Precinct 20 to offer prayers and pay their respects.
“Every time I visit the grave, I see many people who come 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 to pay their respects. This shows how much they loved my mother,” she said.
Marina said she was deeply moved by the continued support and prayers from the public.
Asked what she missed most about her mother, she said it was the everyday moments they had shared, including the chance to seek her advice or tell her about things happening in her life.
“Everything. Sometimes I did not see her every day. But there were times when I wanted to ask her something, leave her a message about something or share a story with her.
“Then I would realise that I could no longer do any of those things. That is the hardest thing for me to go through,” she said.
More than 200 guests attended the tahlil gathering, including Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, former AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, PUTRA president Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ali and former minister Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Mohd Yunus. - October 13, 2026