Hopes and Prayers Accompany Dr Mahathir to the Operating Theater

Tun Dr Mahathir is due to be operated this morning Tuesday September 4th, 2007. Despite assurance by daughter-blogger Dato Marina Mahathir here that he is in good hands, Malaysian of all walk of life await with bated breath the outcome of the operation. The people's hopes and prayers accompanies Malaysia’s glorious son to the operating room.

The Utusan Malaysia’s report entitled Rakyat Doakan Mahathir Selamat Di Bedah here is presented below:

KUALA LUMPUR 3 Sept. – Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad akan menjalani pembedahan pintasan koronari di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) di sini pada pukul 8 pagi esok.

Anak beliau, Datuk Mukhriz berkata, ayahnya akan dimasukkan ke bilik pembedahan pada pukul 6.45 pagi dan pembedahan dijalankan pada pukul 8 pagi.

‘‘Saya menjangka pembedahan mengambil masa empat hingga enam jam bergantung kepada tahap kesihatan ayahanda saya,’’ katanya ketika ditemui di Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru di sini selepas satu majlis solat hajat.

Mukhriz mengharapkan rakyat Malaysia sama-sama mendoakan Dr. Mahathir selamat menjalani pembedahan pagi esok.

Solat hajat memohon kejayaan pembedahan tersebut diadakan di Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru malam ini diimamkan oleh Imam Besar masjid itu, Abdul Ahad Abu Bakar.

Seramai 100 orang menunaikan solat hajat itu termasuk Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar, Datuk Seri Aziz Shamsudin, Ahli Parlimen Kota Bharu, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim dan bekas Timbalan Menteri Penerangan, Datuk Khalid Yunus.

Mukhriz berkata, bekas Perdana Menteri itu berada dalam keadaan sihat menjelang pembedahannya dan boleh bercakap seperti biasa.

‘‘Pembedahan itu memang dalam perancangan kami... ia bukan disebabkan beliau mengalami serangan jantung mengejut,’’ katanya.

Beliau menjelaskan, pembedahan tersebut adalah susulan daripada pembedahan pintasan koronari pertamanya pada tahun 1989.

‘‘Tun (Dr. Mahathir) mengalami serangan jantung ketika berada di Langkawi baru-baru ini dan pembedahan mesti disegerakan untuk mengelak terjadi lagi serangan pada masa akan datang,’’ jelas Mukhriz dalam nada tenang.

Dr. Mahathir, 81, menjalani pembedahan pintasan koronari pertamanya di Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur kira-kira 18 tahun lalu pada 24 Januari 1989.
Satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan IJN petang ini memberitahu, pembedahan pintasan koronari ke atas bekas Perdana Menteri itu esok akan diketuai oleh Tan Sri Dr. Yahya Awang.

Dr. Yahya, pakar bedah jantung terkemuka negara, pernah menjalankan pembedahan yang sama ke atas Dr. Mahathir pada 1989.

Kenyataan itu turut menyebut Pengarah Perubatan IJN, Datuk Seri Dr. Robaayah Zambahari mengetuai panel doktor yang merawat Dr. Mahathir.

Dr. Mahathir yang juga seorang doktor perubatan bersara daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri pada 31 Oktober 2003. Beliau dimasukkan ke IJN pada 18 Ogos lalu untuk menjalani pemeriksaan rutin dan menjalani ujian kardiak yang komprehensif.

Beliau dibenarkan pulang dua hari kemudian pada 20 Ogos.

Dr. Mahathir yang melalui kehidupan aktif walaupun selepas bersara baru-baru ini menjadi tetamu kehormat pada perbarisan Hari Kemerdekaan Ke-50 di Dataran Merdeka di sini.

Menurut Mukhriz, ayahnya masih dalam keadaan normal dan sihat tetapi doktor tidak menggalakkan beliau menerima pengunjung terlalu ramai. “Doktor mahu ayahanda saya berehat sebelum pembedahan itu.

‘‘Semangat ayahanda saya masih kuat malah selera makannya masih ada kerana dia sempat berpesan pada saya supaya membeli makanan kegemarannya iaitu
kuih koci dan apam manis,’’ kata beliau.

Mukhriz menjelaskan, ayahnya yakin kebarangkalian untuk sembuh selepas pembedahan itu adalah tinggi berdasarkan kecanggihan teknologi rawatan sekarang.

Beliau bagaimanapun melahirkan sedikit kebimbangan keadaan Dr. Mahathir selepas pembedahan. Proses untuk sembuh, katanya, mungkin mengambil masa yang lama.

Pada pukul 6 petang ini, Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor turut berada di IJN melawat bekas Perdana Menteri itu yang mentadbir Malaysia selama 22 tahun.

Beliau juga diberitahu bahawa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah dimaklumkan mengenai rancangan pembedahan itu oleh Dr. Mahathir sendiri.

Turut melawat Dr. Mahathir di IJN hari ini ialah Menteri Kesenian, Kebudayaan dan Warisan, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim dan Timbalan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Mohd. Johari Baharum.

The Utusan Malaysia report stands to be corrected for the turnout at the Solat Hajat prayers session at the Masjid Jame Kampung Baru was definitely more than 100. The fact that a Malay mainstream media reported it in such manner was already a good indication of the people’s concern for Tun.

Despite the heavy torrential rain late evening, there were three rows of about 350 performed the special prayers led by the Masjid’s Imam Besar. Apart from those mentioned, others present to pray together with Dato Mukhriz Mahathir were former Federal Court Judges Tan Sri Kadir and Dato’ Eusoff, Parlimentary Secretary for the Ministry for Environment, Dato Sazmi Meah, former Parti Keadilan Deputy President and Member of PRIMA, Encik Rahman Othman, former Treasury and Sime Darby, Encik Din Merican, Masjid Chairman, Dato Aziz, members of Pemuda UMNO, ANSARA and Prowaris, and the regular Jemaah. There was an anonymous donor providing nasi lemak dinner for the attendance.

As told by Encik Sufi Yusof, his Press Secretary, the first few well wishers to call in yesterday were PAS’s President Hj Hadi Wang, Deputy President Nasaruddin Jalil and Mahfuz Omar. Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim was the first to visit him in the morning.

Apart from the prayers organised by ANSARA at Kampung Baru, blogger Biggum Dogmannsteinberg reported Surau and Masjid in Segambut, Petaling Jaya, Kubang Pasu, Sungai Petani, Langkawi, Simpang Renggam, Pulai, Johor Bahru and include far away places like Sandakan were performing the special prayer.

Despite the reserved coverage of Dr Mahathir by the oppressed mainstream media, his popularity with the public has not waned. Foto-blogger Jinggo, photographing the Merdeka parade here, related a noticeable reception from the public upon the announcement of his attendance by Emcee, Mahadzir Lokman. Earlier the night before at the Dataran Merdeka ceremony and Live via RTM, the mere mention of his name draws a strong applause from the public, comparable to the present Prime Minister.

There is a string of wellwishers on the Internet at MyKMU Forum, Malaysia Today, Rocky’s Bru, and MageP's Lab, among others. The Scribe and Pahit Manis dedicated poems for Tun. These show of appreciation from the public should not be taken likely by his political detractors within UMNO that have been relentless in downplaying him.

To many young Malaysians including 11-year old blogger Aishah here, Tun Dr Mahathir is their only memory of a Malaysian Prime Minister. His immense contribution to the country could not be denied. He will always remain appreciated by fellow Malaysians for bringing Malaysia to its present economic standing and international recognition. Many will remember Dr Mahathir for steering the country to safety during the financial crisis of 1997/98.

Despite his advancing age, he has not let up to “tegur” the weakness of the present leadership. After his 1989 heart operation, many Malaysian will remember that he accelerated the industrialisation drive of the country. While, the same is not to be expected of him this time around, many Malaysian still count on Dr Mahathir to be their voice to express concern on the decaying state of the country.

At the moment, he will also need the prayers and expression of love from all Malaysian for the more crucial post-operation recovery. Other than the usual expression of well wishes with flowers, and greeting cards, can anyone get him a good kueh koci and apam manis? And off course, it has to be in accordance with his dietary requirements.