KUALA LUMPUR - Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad was transferred out of intensive care Monday, more than a month after undergoing his second heart bypass operation.

Tun Dr Mahathir, 82, was briefly moved to a regular ward two weeks ago but then had to go back into surgery to remove infected chest tissue and had been recovering in the intensive care unit.

'Mahathir has been transferred to the (general) ward of the National Heart Institute (IJN) from the intensive care unit,' the hospital said in a statement.

'IJN doctors are happy with his progress and will continue with post-surgery rehabilitation including chest and muscle strengthening exercises,' it said, adding that Tun Dr Mahathir has been able to walk unaided since Sunday.

His daughter Marina posted photos of her father on her blog on Monday and said he had eaten a hearty lunch of pasta, salad and then a pudding.

'Things are looking up!' she said.

Tun Dr Mahathir resigned in 2003 after 22 years in power, handing the reins over to the current prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Despite retiring from office, he remains a hugely influential figure and has become an outspoken critic of his successor, accusing him of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. -- AFP

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