KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been discharged from the National Heart Institute (IJN) after being admitted for 53 days.

According to Dr Mahathir’s spokesman, the 98-year-old was discharged from the IJN at 11.30am Monday (March 18).

“Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN on Jan 26 this year for treatment of infection and for observation,” said the spokesman in a brief statement.

It was reported on Feb 13 that Dr Mahathir would be taking a period of rest following treatment at IJN for an infection after he was admitted on Jan 26.

The 98-year-old's state of health was revealed during proceedings for his defamation suit against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week.

Dr Mahathir's lawyer, Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, in an application to postpone proceedings, told the court that his client had been admitted to IJN.