Mahathir recovering well: son

Mahathir, 81, was flown from a hospital on the resort island of Langkawi, where he was admitted Monday, to a specialist heart hospital in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

"The decision to transfer Mahathir... was made after doctors were satisfied at his positive rate of progress to treatment," his aide Sufi Yusoff said in a statement.

"He is okay and he is very fine and is recovering well," Mahathir's son, Mokhzani Mahathir, told reporters.

"He spoke to the family members and told us that he was hungry."

Mokhzani said a team of doctors had done a thorough check-up on Mahathir, including an x-ray and heart tests, and would release a statement later.

"He will be here for a few more days and he thanked everybody for their concerns and their prayers," Mokhzani said.