According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or more affectionately known as Pak Lah is suffering from dementia. In a Twitter thread, Khairy said that this is also the reason why Pak Lah is no longer seen in public. “It has been challenging for us to see the deterioration in his cognitive function. Some people are aware but many are not,” he said.
He added that Pak Lah’s family has decided to openly share this to shine a light on dementia and cognitive impairment. According to Astro Awani, Khairy also added that the 82 years old Pak Lah has reached the point where he does not recognise the people around him, and his mind is no longer functioning as usual. The situation is especially more pressing and personal to Khairy as he is also Pak Lah’s son-in-law.
“Fortunately, we are able to provide professional care. Many others are not able to do so,” he shared in his Twitter posting. The Ministry of Health is drafting the Health White Paper, and will make a strong case for more investment in publicly funded social care to look after people who do not have the means to do so privately.
Pak Lah was Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister, serving from October 2003 to April 2009 and was also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kepala Batas for 8 consecutive terms from 1978 to 2013.
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