Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was today discharged from the National Heart Institute (IJN), seven weeks after undergoing his second coronary bypass operation.

Mahathir, 82, underwent the second coronary bypass operation on Sept 4, followed by another surgery for a wound debridement on Sept 22.

IJN said in a statement that he has made encouraging progress in his post-surgical rehabilitation process.

Bernama reported that a cheerful-looking Mahathir waved to the public at the IJN as he walked out of the VIP ward at 10.20am in the company of his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, his children and doctors to a waiting car.

The specialist hospital said that the former premier will continue with his physiotherapy exercises at home and come for periodic check-ups at the institute as part of his post-surgical rehabilitation process.

Follow-up treatment

Bernama also quoted his daughter Marina as saying that doctors have advised her father to rest at home and continue with the rehabilitation programmes and follow-up treatment.

"My father is happy to be able to go home. He wants to be in a different environment and wishes to rest," she said, adding that the family would hold thanksgiving prayers soon.

Marina said Mahathir expressed his gratitude to IJN staff who took care of him during his stay at the country's premier heart centre.

"We have agreed to discharge Tun Mahathir now that he has fully recovered," said Dr Yahya Awang who headed the panel of heart surgeons who operated on the former prime minister.

Two nurses from IJN would observe Mahathir at home over the next few days, he told reporters.

The political veteran went in for the surgery after suffering two heart attacks in the past year. He had previous heart bypass surgery in 1989.