Former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted to hospital after fall at home

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was admitted to the National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara, IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at about 9.30am on 6 January 2026 after suffering a fall at his residence earlier in the morning.

The incident was confirmed by his press secretary, Suffi Yusoff, who said the former prime minister was taken to IJN by ambulance shortly after the fall. According to Suffi, Dr Mahathir is currently undergoing overall medical monitoring.

“Yes, he was admitted to IJN following a fall and is currently undergoing overall monitoring,” Suffi said when contacted by local media.

A media officer from Dr Mahathir’s office separately said an official statement on his health condition would be issued in the near future. No further details were immediately provided on the nature of the fall or any injuries sustained.

Dr Mahathir, who turned 100 in July 2025, has faced recurring health challenges in recent years, particularly related to his heart. According to past medical disclosures and media reports, he has suffered at least two heart attacks.

He has also undergone at least two coronary bypass surgeries over the course of his life. These procedures were widely reported during his earlier terms in office and in subsequent years.

In December 2021 and January 2022, Dr Mahathir was admitted to hospital for several days on separate occasions to undergo medical checks. At the time, his office said the admissions were precautionary and related to ongoing health monitoring.

The National Heart Institute, where he is currently receiving care, is Malaysia’s premier cardiac referral centre. It has previously treated Dr Mahathir during earlier admissions linked to heart-related conditions.

Despite his advanced age and health concerns, Dr Mahathir has remained publicly active and politically engaged. He is regarded as one of the most dominant figures in the country’s modern political history.

Dr Mahathir first served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, overseeing more than two decades of rapid economic development and industrialisation. His leadership during that period left a lasting imprint on national institutions and policies.

He returned to office in 2018 at the age of 92, leading a reformist coalition that ended more than six decades of rule by the same political alliance. His second administration was widely seen as historic due to his age and political comeback.

That government, however, collapsed in 2020 following internal power struggles and defections. The episode led to significant political instability and a series of leadership changes.

In the 2022 general election, Dr Mahathir lost his parliamentary seat, marking his first electoral defeat at the federal level. Despite the loss, he continued to play a role in political discourse.

He later aligned himself with several ethnic Malay political parties in efforts aimed at challenging the current government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. These moves have kept him in the public eye, even without an elected position.