Opposition Leader Mohd Fadzil Mohd Nor is in stable condition and his health is improving following his five-hour heart surgery on Monday, said his daughter Salwa Mohd Fadzil.

"The doctor told us that his condition is improving," she told malaysiakini when met at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) today.

"At first we're worried about his condition but we feel better today [after the doctor's explanation]," she added.

Asked whether Fadzil, 65, has regain consciousness, the soft-spoken Salwa said, "I'm not sure because not everyone is allowed to see him".

However according to party sources, Fadzil has yet to regain consciousness. Fadzil's doctors have said before that due to his previous health record, his "post-operative recovery is expected to be slow and complex".

Salwa is the PAS president's sixth daughter, who is doing third-year Syariah law studies in Universiti Malaya.

She added that some close family members took turn to see him while others greeted visitors who came to visit the opposition leader who is recuperating from his heart operation.

Fadzil, who is also the Pendang MP, is still being closely monitored by specialists at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

HUKM director, Prof Dr Zulkifli Ismail was not available for comments today.

Throngs of visitors

About 30 people, mostly relatives and friends, including reporters were seen waiting outside the ICU.

According to a security personnel whom malaysiakini met at the hospital's lobby today, a large number of visitors have frequented the hospital since Monday to visit Fadzil.

"There were throngs of visitors," he said and claimed that those who visited Fadzil even outnumbered those who visited Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when both men were admitted to the same hospital.

Fadzil was admitted at the hospital last Thursday for a follow-up routine check after his admission for chest pains on May 10 at the Kuala Terengganu Hospital.

His health condition is believed to have deteriorated by work stress, especially the party's general assembly meeting early this month.