JAKARTA, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today visited former Indonesian president Suharto, who is in critical condition after being admitted to Pertamina Central Hospital, South Jakarta, here 11 days ago.
The former Malaysian prime minister, who was accompanied by his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, left Kuala Lumpur on a special aircraft at 11 am (Malaysian time) and immediately proceeded to the hospital upon arriving at the Halim Perdana Kusumah Airport, here.
Dr Mahathir flew to Jakarta specifically to visit his old friend and was expected to return to Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Suharto, who was the second Indonesian president (1966-1998), is fondly known as Pak Harto to the Indonesians and had led the republic for 32 years and was responsible for bringing stability and progress to Indonesia.
Together with Dr Mahathir and former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (who visited Suharto yesterday), Pak Harto was among the founders of Asean.
Dr Mahathir spent about 25 minutes at Suharto's ward but refused to comment when approached by foreign and local media representatives as soon as he came down to get into his car.
There had been wide coverage about Dr Mahathir's visit as soon as it was reported that he would pay a visit to the former president.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Dr Mahathir's trip was purely to visit Pak Harto, which proved the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
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