WITH possibly only two years at the top job, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been burning the midnight oil to tackle a raft of issues since being sworn-in as the seventh prime minister on May 10. 

Days are spent interviewing candidates for top positions in government agencies, filling cabinet posts, putting out fires, entertaining numerous media requests and unravelling the mess left by poor government policies.

Nights are spent poring over reports and documents.‎ Sleep starts at 5am and ends at 7am.

And his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, who is also a medical doctor, is concerned over his punishing schedule.

A Facebook post has turned up on the Kelab Che Det page with a photo showing a tired-looking Dr Mahathir with this post: “I am worried about Tun’s health. He lacks sleep. His sleeping hours are now used to study every government document. In one night, he reads more than 200 documents until 4am-5am. By 7am, he is already in the office. – Tun Siti Hasmah.”

The post has been shared 16,714 times on Facebook. It is also gone viral on other social media and online messaging platforms.

Facebook user Calvin Kok said Dr Mahathir is racing against time to fix a “badly broken Malaysia”.

“He knows he has limited time. We should pray that Tun will always enjoy good health and his heart will always be calm.

“I suggest they put up a special health unit that is always by his side,” he said.

To be sure, Dr Mahathir has always put in the hours. His work ethic was legendary during his 22 years as prime minister between 1981 and 2003.

When Malaysia was buffeted by the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and a political crisis a year later after the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim, he worked long hours.

But he was 20 years younger and always managed to squeeze in some time in the afternoon for a power nap. 

Prime Minister Mahathir 2.0 is 93 and working against the clock to reform the economy and return its institutions back to health.

Many Malaysians appreciate the effort being put in by the PM and are ready to hammer anyone who dare question Dr Mahathir’s commitment to lead and carry out Pakatan Harapan’s reform agenda. 

Even fair questions are shouted down. 

Last night, an online commentator wondered if Dr Mahathir had forgotten the pledge by PH for the PM not to hold more than one ministerial position. This comment followed the announcement that Dr Mahathir was also going to be the education minister.

This question invited 1,000 responses, mostly hammering him for nit-picking. – May 18, 2018.