Many wish I was dead, says Dr M

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has brushed aside concerns regarding his health despite claiming that his rivals wish to see him dead.

"I'm okay. Do you look at me and see as if I just recovered from a serious illness?

"A lot of people are having wishful thinking... they wish I'm dead because I'm a nuisance and danger to the whole nation," he told reporters in Putrajaya this morning.

Mahathir was responding to messages circulating on social media claiming that he had been admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering from breathing difficulties.

In recent years, Mahathir had become the most prominent critic of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Mahathir now leads Pakatan Harapan, the main opposition coalition, going into the next general election which is expected to be called in the next few months.

However, many Harapan supporters have voiced concerns over the state of Mahathir's health. He recently celebrated his 92nd birthday.

Mahathir has a history of heart ailments. He underwent coronary bypass surgery in 1989 and again in 2007. 

Following this, he was admitted due to chest infection in 2013 and again last year. -Mkini