logo
Mahathir, 100, apologises for leaving birthday picnic early due to fatigue

Mahathir, 100, apologises for leaving birthday picnic early due to fatigue

Straits Times6 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has apologised for
leaving a birthday-themed picnic event early on July 13 .
He explained in a TikTok post that he was feeling unwell and needed medical attention.
'I am sorry I could not stay at the picnic yesterday. I was too tired, and the doctor advised me to go to the hospital. So, I went, but only briefly, and then returned home.
'I am feeling better now and have resumed my normal routine. I hope everyone can understand, and I apologise again,' said the 100-year-old in the short video clip on July 14.
The Picnic and Potluck event, held at Putrajaya Lake next to the Perdana Leadership Foundation, was organised to celebrate Tun Dr Mahathir's birthday on July 10 and the 99th birthday of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, on July 12.
Dr Mahathir, who drove himself to the event at around 7.45am, joined a tandem bicycle ride covering about 8km to 9km.
However, after the ride, he appeared fatigued and was seen resting briefly before heading to the breakfast area.
He left the gathering around 10am, before being able to meet and take photos with attendees.
He was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) around 10am to rest. He was discharged and allowed to return home as at 4.45pm on July 13. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

It's like I just threw that part of my life away': Teen opens up on the toll of Kpod abuse
It's like I just threw that part of my life away': Teen opens up on the toll of Kpod abuse

New Paper

time2 days ago

  • New Paper

It's like I just threw that part of my life away': Teen opens up on the toll of Kpod abuse

His first taste of a drug-laced e-vaporiser was when he was 15, after a friend introduced him to it at a party in October 2024. They became close friends over the course of a year. "He asked me to try this thing and I thought it was just a normal vape. But after he used it, he started acting very sluggish, like a zombie," said Joe (not his real name). The e-vaporiser was laced with etomidate, a potent anaesthetic agent typically used in clinical practice. In Singapore, it has become known as the main ingredient in Kpods - vape juice laced with synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical products. "I inhaled the first puff very deeply and felt very dizzy. My body also started to feel very light," Joe recalled. He said he was not hooked immediately but later depended on the device to get over a failed romance in December 2024. At one point, he was using one drug-laced vape every day, spending nearly $1,000 a month on his habit. He tapped money he received during Chinese New Year and on his birthday. Joe, who was accompanied by his parents during the interview with The Straits Times, said: "I remembered what it felt like when I used it at my friend's house the first time. "It made me forget. It helped me to cope with certain things and I thought it would help me ease my stress." Soon, the pair of friends - who once played video games and went swimming together - began meeting just to use Kpods. Joe knew that the pods were laced with etomidate. He said he had watched some videos on social media app TikTok that explained what the anaesthetic compound is. He once had a bad fall while under the effects of the Kpod and realised only hours later that he was bleeding from his arms and legs. Joe added that many of his friends were also using Kpods, which can cost up to $60 for a cartridge. That changed in April, when his close friend died after falling off a ledge at his Housing Board block, Joe said. "My friend was depressed when he was introduced to Kpods. He started to abuse it too. "His mother told me that one night, he went to the lift lobby near the eighth floor and sat on the ledge," said Joe, adding that his friend's mother said her son had been using Kpods at the time. Joe's friend was only 14. "I thought it was an April Fool's joke until I saw his obituary. After I attended his wake, I couldn't get the image of his body out of my head. I had to use Kpods to cope with his death," he said. Joe's father said he accompanied him to the wake in April. When he saw Joe breaking down upon seeing his friend's body, he used the opportunity to speak to his son. "He said he did not stop his friend from using Kpods because he thought he should not point out his good friend's mistakes. It ended in a tragedy," said Joe's father. But Joe could not stop. A few weeks after the funeral, the teenager experienced constant tremors and numbness, and coughed up blood. He locked himself in his room and continued to puff on the laced device. He finally made the decision to stop relying on Kpods when his friend's mother reached out to him. "We were very close. I was almost like her second son. She told me then she knew I was also using Kpods, and asked me to stop." Not alert Joe's father said he suspected his son was addicted to Kpods when his grades and attendance started to slip. "He would be sleepy during the day and stay up late at night in his room. My wife noticed how he was no longer alert. "We were confused by his inability to focus," said Joe's father. The parents sought professional help after many conversations with Joe. "We tried to approach him with calm and patience but it was not always easy. At home, we started supervising him more closely," said the father. In the end, Joe managed to keep his word to his friend's mother, and quit vaping in April. "At that time, my world was dependent on Kpods. I would be very restless without it in my system and become very agitated. "But the time I could have used to study or better myself, I used it on Kpods. It's like I just threw that part of my life away." Helplines Mental well-being National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources

'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died, Singapore News
'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died, Singapore News

AsiaOne

time2 days ago

  • AsiaOne

'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died, Singapore News

SINGAPORE - His first taste of a drug-laced e-vaporiser was when he was 15, after a friend introduced him to it at a party in October 2024. They became close friends over the course of a year. "He asked me to try this thing and I thought it was just a normal vape. But after he used it, he started acting very sluggish, like a zombie," said Joe (not his real name). The e-vaporiser was laced with etomidate, a potent anaesthetic agent typically used in clinical practice. In Singapore, it has become known as the main ingredient in Kpods - vape juice laced with synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical products. "I inhaled the first puff very deeply and felt very dizzy. My body also started to feel very light," Joe recalled. He said he was not hooked immediately but later depended on the device to get over a failed romance in December 2024. At one point, he was using one drug-laced vape every day, spending nearly $1,000 a month on his habit. He tapped money he received during Chinese New Year and on his birthday. Joe, who was accompanied by his parents during the interview with The Straits Times, said: "I remembered what it felt like when I used it at my friend's house the first time. "It made me forget. It helped me to cope with certain things and I thought it would help me ease my stress." Soon, the pair of friends - who once played video games and went swimming together - began meeting just to use Kpods. Joe knew that the pods were laced with etomidate. He said he had watched some videos on social media app TikTok that explained what the anaesthetic compound is. He once had a bad fall while under the effects of the Kpod and realised only hours later that he was bleeding from his arms and legs. Joe added that many of his friends were also using Kpods, which can cost up to $60 for a cartridge. That changed in April, when his close friend died after falling off a ledge at his Housing Board block, Joe said. "My friend was depressed when he was introduced to Kpods. He started to abuse it too. "His mother told me that one night, he went to the lift lobby near the eighth floor and sat on the ledge," said Joe, adding that his friend's mother said her son had been using Kpods at the time. Joe's friend was only 14. "I thought it was an April Fool's joke until I saw his obituary. After I attended his wake, I couldn't get the image of his body out of my head. I had to use Kpods to cope with his death," he said. Joe's father said he accompanied him to the wake in April. When he saw Joe breaking down upon seeing his friend's body, he used the opportunity to speak to his son. "He said he did not stop his friend from using Kpods because he thought he should not point out his good friend's mistakes. It ended in a tragedy," said Joe's father. [[nid:720201]] But Joe could not stop. A few weeks after the funeral, the teenager experienced constant tremors and numbness, and coughed up blood. He locked himself in his room and continued to puff on the laced device. He finally made the decision to stop relying on Kpods when his friend's mother reached out to him. "We were very close. I was almost like her second son. She told me then she knew I was also using Kpods, and asked me to stop." Not alert Joe's father said he suspected his son was addicted to Kpods when his grades and attendance started to slip. "He would be sleepy during the day and stay up late at night in his room. My wife noticed how he was no longer alert. "We were confused by his inability to focus," said Joe's father. The parents sought professional help after many conversations with Joe. "We tried to approach him with calm and patience but it was not always easy. At home, we started supervising him more closely," said the father. In the end, Joe managed to keep his word to his friend's mother, and quit vaping in April. "At that time, my world was dependent on Kpods. I would be very restless without it in my system and become very agitated. "But the time I could have used to study or better myself, I used it on Kpods. It's like I just threw that part of my life away." Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800 Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928 This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.

‘I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died
‘I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Straits Times

‘I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Joe said that at one point, he was using one drug-laced vape every day, spending nearly $1,000 a month on his habit. SINGAPORE – His first taste of a drug-laced e-vaporiser was when he was 15, after a friend introduced him to it at a party in October 2024. They became close friends over the course of a year. 'He asked me to try this thing and I thought it was just a normal vape. But after he used it, he started acting very sluggish, like a zombie,' said Joe (not his real name). The e-vaporiser was laced with etomidate, a potent anaesthetic agent typically used in clinical practice. In Singapore, it has become known as the main ingredient in Kpods – vape juice laced with synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical products. 'I inhaled the first puff very deeply and felt very dizzy. My body also started to feel very light,' Joe recalled. He said he was not hooked immediately but later depended on the device to get over a failed romance in December 2024. At one point, he was using one drug-laced vape every day, spending nearly $1,000 a month on his habit. He tapped money he received during Chinese New Year and on his birthday. Joe, who was accompanied by his parents during the interview with The Straits Times, said: 'I remembered what it felt like when I used it at my friend's house the first time. 'It made me forget. It helped me to cope with certain things and I thought it would help me ease my stress.' Soon, the pair of friends – who once played video games and went swimming together – began meeting just to use Kpods. Joe knew that the pods were laced with etomidate. He said he had watched some videos on social media app TikTok that explained what the anaesthetic compound is. He once had a bad fall while under the effects of the Kpod and realised only hours later that he was bleeding from his arms and legs. Joe added that many of his friends were also using Kpods, which can cost up to $60 for a cartridge. More on this topic HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities That changed in April , when his close friend died after falling off a ledge at his Housing Board block, Joe said. 'My friend was depressed when he was introduced to Kpods. He started to abuse it too. 'His mother told me that one night, he went to the lift lobby near the eighth floor and sat on the ledge,' said Joe, adding that his friend's mother said her son had been using Kpods at the time. Joe's friend was only 14. 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke until I saw his obituary. After I attended his wake, I couldn't get the image of his body out of my head. I had to use Kpods to cope with his death,' he said. Joe's father said he accompanied him to the wake in April. When he saw Joe breaking down upon seeing his friend's body, he used the opportunity to speak to his son. 'He said he did not stop his friend from using Kpods because he thought he should not point out his good friend's mistakes. It ended in a tragedy,' said Joe's father. But Joe could not stop. A few weeks after the funeral, the teenager experienced constant tremors and numbness, and coughed up blood. He locked himself in his room and continued to puff on the laced device. He finally made the decision to stop relying on Kpods when his friend's mother reached out to him. 'We were very close. I was almost like her second son. She told me then she knew I was also using Kpods, and asked me to stop.' Not alert Joe's father said he suspected his son was addicted to Kpods when his grades and attendance started to slip. 'He would be sleepy during the day and stay up late at night in his room. My wife noticed how he was no longer alert. 'We were confused by his inability to focus,' said Joe's father. The parents sought professional help after many conversations with Joe. 'We tried to approach him with calm and patience but it was not always easy. At home, we started supervising him more closely,' said the father. In the end, Joe managed to keep his word to his friend's mother, and quit vaping in April. 'At that time, my world was dependent on Kpods. I would be very restless without it in my system and become very agitated. 'But the time I could have used to study or better myself, I used it on Kpods. It's like I just threw that part of my life away.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store