KJ: Abdullah Badawi suffering from dementia

Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is suffering from dementia, according to his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.

The health minister told reporters that Abdullah, who served as premier from 2003 to 2009, no longer recognises nor remembers his family members.

"I have never shared this before. Many asked where is Pak Lah? He has dementia and that is why you do not see him in public anymore. It is a cruel condition.

“The body is there but the mind is not. He is wheelchair-bound. He cannot function normally anymore.

“He does not remember my name, my wife's name. The only reason I know he recognises me is the flicker in his eye when I visit him," Khairy was quoted as saying by the News Straits Times today.

The minister was at the launch of the Malaysian Conference of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Dementia and Schizophrenia.

Khairy added that the 82-year-old started showing signs of cognitive impairment shortly after retiring as the fifth prime minister in 2009.

Unfortunately, the condition has progressively worsened with time.

"There are more bad days than good. So keep him in your prayers and we hope for better days ahead," he said.

USM researcher wins top German award, proceeds to fund ketum research

A third of Covid survivors suffer neurological or mental disorders: study

Alzheimer's cases go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness

Positive response to cannabis treatment in rats with Alzheimer's: UPM researchers