[Tee tiong huat]

An aide to Mahathir told Reuters he was hospitalised on Tuesday evening for coughing due to a lower respiratory tract infection, and would be on medical leave until Oct 25.

Mahathir served as prime minister for 22 years until 2003. He returned as prime minister in 2018 after leading the opposition coalition to a historic win, but his government collapsed in less than two years due to infighting.