Despite being warded under intensive care, former deputy prime minister Abdul Ghafar Baba was able to greet more than a dozen VIP well-wishers this morning.

Among the people who turned up at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30am included Malacca Governor Khalil Yakob, MCA president Ong Ka Ting, newly anointed Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai and former transport minister Dr Ling Liong Sik.

According to Ling, celebrating Ghafar's birthday had become an annual event for MCA over the past 20 years.

"As far as MCA is concerned, we will always remember his voluntary contributions to the party [...] He was also the person who cemented all the (Barisan Nasional) component parties together," said Ling during an ad-hoc press conference in the hospital before visiting Ghafar in the intensive care unit.

Conditions stabilising

According to a press statement read out by Glenagles CEO Stuart JV Pack (right), Ghafar was transferred from the National Heart Institute on Jan 25.

Pack explained that Ghafar is conscious and fully responsive while at this time, his cardiac and renal functions are stable. He is also breathing without mechanical aid.

"In a nutshell, his condition is stable [...] and is improving day by day," he told reporters.

Should his conditions improve further, he would be moved out of intensive care and into a normal ward and given rehabilitation theraphy.

Among other guests that are expected to visit the birthday boy today include Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his Deputy Najib Tun Razak and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.