TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a rare public appearance at Dataran Putrajaya on Monday, joining thousands of Malaysians at the National Day celebrations.
The 101-year-old former prime minister was seen in an electric wheelchair, waving to people gathered at the venue.
A livestream on his TikTok account, @chedetofficial, showed Dr Mahathir greeting members of the public and chatting with some of them.
Those around him included members of the security team, with several stopping to shake his hand and take photographs.
Dr Mahathir also posted a short message on Facebook to mark the occasion, alongside a video featuring highlights from his two terms as prime minister.
“Selamat menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan dan Hari Kebangsaan yang ke-69, Malaysia,” he said.
Monday’s appearance was not Dr Mahathir’s first at the National Day celebrations in Putrajaya. It was, however, his first attendance at the event in a wheelchair.
Last year, Dr Mahathir said he had not received an official invitation to the celebrations, but said he was not upset by it.
He had said there was no reason why he, as a Malaysian, should not be allowed to attend the national event.
Dr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and returned to the post in 2018 after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election. He stepped down in February 2020.
His appearance comes months after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) for rehabilitation following a fractured hip.
He was admitted on January 6 after falling while exercising at his home in The Mines.
In July last year, he was also taken to IJN after feeling fatigued during a picnic and potluck organised to mark his 100th birthday and the 99th birthday of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali. – August 31, 2026
