Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad hospitalised once again at 99

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to hospital for a respiratory infection, his office said on Wednesday after media reported the ex-premier missed a court hearing in a defamation case he has lodged.

The 99-year-old Mahathir, who served as prime minister for more than two decades, has a history of heart problems and has undergone bypass surgeries. He has been in and out of hospital in recent years, and was last hospitalised in July.

Mahathir had been due in court on Wednesday for a defamation case he had filed against the current deputy prime minister, but local media reported the hearing was postponed after his lawyer said he had been admitted to the National Heart Institute.

An aide of Mahathir told Reuters he was hospitalised on Tuesday evening for coughing due to a lower respiratory tract infection, and would be on medical leave until Oct. 25.

Mahathir is recognised as the world's oldest serving leader, having held office twice.

He served  Malaysia's fourth prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003. He then served as prime minister for a second time at the age of 92 from 2018 to 2020 after leading the opposition coalition to a historic win.

Mahathir Mohamad lost in the 2022 general election.