Malaysia's Mahathir in heart hospital for check-up

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Reuters) Veteran Malaysian politician Mahathir Mohamad, has been admitted to a heart hospital in the capital for a routine check-up, his aide said today.

The former prime minister was admitted to the National Heart Institute yesterday and is expected to be discharged on Monday after completing a set of comprehensive cardiac investigations, Sufi Yusoff told Reuters.

''He did not complain of anything, it's just a routine check-up.

He should be out by lunch time tomorrow,'' Sufi said.

Mahathir ruled Malaysia for 22 years until late 2003 and continues to exert an influence over politics, more recently as a stern critic of his hand-chosen successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The 81-year-old suffered a mild heart attack in May while holidaying on the northern resort island of Langkawi. Mahathir, who has kept a hectic schedule despite his retirement, has a history of heart trouble. He had bypass surgery in 1989.

REUTERS RKM PM1833