FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has made his first appearance outside a medical environment since being hospitalised earlier this month, emerging briefly for a low-key café visit at a shopping complex in Damansara.
The 100-year-old statesman was seen at Pavilion Damansara, where he remained seated in a wheelchair and was assisted throughout the outing. Observers described him as calm and relaxed during the short visit.
A close aide said the appearance came more than three weeks after Dr Mahathir was admitted for medical care and was regarded as an encouraging sign in what is expected to be a gradual recovery process. The aide stressed that the outing was deliberately brief and closely supervised.
“He's out having coffee at Pavilion Damansara. It's his first public outing 22 days after his admission,” said long time aide Sufi Yusoff.
Dr Mahathir has been undergoing extended rehabilitation after sustaining injuries from a fall at his residence earlier this month. The incident resulted in a hip fracture, for which he continues to receive treatment at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. - January 27, 2026
