KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has revealed he chose to undergo heart surgery in Kuala Lumpur, even though he had access to world-class medical facilities overseas during his time in office.
Speaking at the ‘Appreciation Hi-Tea with NGO in Celebration 100 Years of Tun M’ event, Dr Mahathir said he initially believed he would never suffer from heart problems.
“I thought I was very healthy and wasn’t doing anything very serious, so I assumed I would be free from heart attacks,” he said.
However, he began experiencing symptoms one day while horseback riding on the way to Genting Highlands.
“I felt funny, like something wasn’t right. That night, I still didn’t feel well. I tried to convince myself it wasn’t a heart attack,” he sai.
The discomfort returned days later after attending an event where he had a heavy meal.
“When I got home, I felt very uncomfortable. I tried lying down, walking around, but the tightness in my chest wouldn’t go away,” he said.
Dr Mahathir then alerted his wife, who immediately called a doctor. After an examination, the doctor confirmed he was experiencing a heart attack and needed to be rushed to the hospital.
“It wasn’t a major attack, but it was still a heart attack. I was given medication and admitted,” he said.
At the time, stents were not yet available and open-heart surgery was the only option.
Dr Mahathir was offered the choice to have the operation done overseas, including at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, but he declined.
“I asked if it could be done in KL. The doctors said yes, so I decided to have it here. I felt it was important to show confidence in our local doctors,” he added.