Dr Mahathir keeps senility at bay with active lifestyle

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 8 years ago · Published on 22 Mar 2018 8:11PM · 5 Comments

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he is fortunate to not be afflicted with illnesses such as cancer. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Farhan Nazmi, March 22, 2018.

PAKATAN Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who turns 93 in July, today said he is far from being senile, attributing his good physical and mental health to having an active lifestyle.

“This morning, I asked an Australian reporter, ‘do you find my answers irrelevant?’. I could answer all the questions,” said the former prime minister at the “Is Mahathir too old to be prime minister?” forum organised by Malay daily Sinar Harian.

His appearance at the event came as a surprise, as he had not responded to an invitation by Sinar Harian.

“I can still convince crowds. I can speak. Of course, I’m not 100% strong. I’ve got to go to the hospital for injections for my lung infection.”

He said he developed a cough while performing the haj in 1999, and following a bout of pneumonia, his lungs get infected “every now and then”.

“Physical ageing sometimes does not tally with how long we have been alive. There are some people who are in their 50s, who suffer from dementia or who are senile.

“Then, there are those who are of advanced age, but can still think innovatively.

“I am fortunate that at my age, I am healthy and not afflicted with illnesses such as cancer. I have lived a good life, and I am active. Being active is really important – not just active in the physical sense, but in terms of using the mind.

“If a person does not use what they have, it will become weak. If we don’t use our mind, if we don’t think or read, our brain will decline. I’m active not just physically, but in terms of reading, thinking, solving problems.”

He said when it comes to eating, moderation is key.

“From a young age, I’ve been aware that we cannot be overweight as it puts a strain on the heart. The heart has to pump blood throughout the body.

“The most important thing is to not overeat. My mother told me this, to finish your meal and just stop. This is very important. You have to look after your body, and avoid accumulating useless fat.

“I can still wear my trousers from 30 to 35 years ago.” – March 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • What can I possibly say? Dr.M speaks and we try to take it all in. The man is special, 1 of a kind and possibly never to appear on this earth again. Let us enjoy him while we have the chance..

    Posted 8 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • What can I possibly say? Dr.M speaks and we try to take it all in. The man is special, 1 of a kind and possibly never to appear on this earth again. Let us enjoy his presence while we have the chance. SALUTE..

    Posted 8 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • His answers may not be irrelevant but his approach to the future of Malaysia and its people certainly are irrelevant. He has manipulated his electioneering to dwell on his supposedly illustrious past and on denigrating personalities on the basis of supposition. He and his coalition of failures and professional losers are selfish, unimaginative, visionless avoiders of important issues with zero empathy toward Malaysia and its people. I strongly suspect that Malaysians are so used to being manipulated they don’t even know it’s happening. Equally the supporters of Harapan have such weak principles that they equate loss of human rights with theft

    Posted 8 years ago by Dennis Madden · Reply

  • "I can still wear my trousers from 30 to 35 years ago.” And he still wears the mentality of his world of 35 years ago. A world where money was unlimited, a world where incompetence and corruption was overlooked, a world where the people were tossed the crumbs which fell from the table of the greedy and the selfish, a world where there was no need for vision, a world of the here and now. And to hell with the future and the people. That world no longer exists outside the delusions of Mahathir

    Posted 8 years ago by Dennis Madden · Reply

  • Look , 93 is old. Heck, it is beyond old, it is ancient. That is just plain facts. When people are suprised that you look so young and alert when you are 93, they are as surprised as when they see a lion walking on two legs - the lion is not walking great on two legs, people are just surprised it is possible for a lion to walk n two legs - thats all. People saying they are surprised one is alert and look young at 93, it just means that people are surprised that one is still alive and not senile, not that one should be doing things like go hiking up a mountain or swim across the straits of malacca or become the PM of the country. At 93 years of age, if Dr. M becomes PM, can you really blame him if he would rather take a nap than develop malaysia's economic potentials with a foreign country? At 93, even If Dr. M dies out of natural causes ( touch wood) , all of are just going to feel guilty, because we will feel like it is because we forced him work at such an advance age that he died. Even the great Lionel Messi would suck if you make him play football at the age of 93. People, like sardine cans, havea 'good to use' window. Just because we were good once, doesn't mean we will be good forever.

    Posted 8 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply