The condition of former Kedah menteri besar Azizan Abdul Razak is reported to be improving as he has begun to respond by opening his eyelids when called by the doctor.

His press secretary Mohd Helmi Khalid said, however, Azizan was still unable to speak and is still in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Penang Hospital.

“At about 4pm today, the doctor treating him had called his (Azizan’s) wife and family members and myself to inform that the doctor had reduced the dosage of the pain killer given to Datuk Seri Azizan as his condition was becoming more stable.

“The doctor had also informed that he had responded by opening his eyes when called. Alhamdulilah, this is a positive development,” he said when contacted by Bernama in George Town today.

He said Azizan was being given close attention by more than 10 specialist doctors including cardiology, orthopaedic, diabetes and nephrology experts.

“So far, the doctors have not informed when Datuk Seri (Azizan) can be discharged or transferred to other hospitals (in Kedah),” he said.

Hilmi said so far members of the public were still not allowed to visit Azizan as his condition was still weak.

He said the Tunku Bendahara of Kedah, Tunku Annuar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, was expected to visit Azizan at the Penang Hospital at 7pm tonight.

Azizan, 69, who is also the state assemblyperson for Sungai Limau, had undergone surgery to amputate both his legs following complications from diabetes last Thursday.

He was transferred to the Penang Hospital last Wednesday from the Kedah Medical Centre after being treated for a viral infection on his feet since last Monday.

Azizan had to relinquish the post of Kedah menteri besar following the defeat of the opposition pact to the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election last Sunday.

BN won 21 of the 36 state assembly seats to give it a simple majority to form the new state government.

- Bernama