Najib admitted to hospital as non-emergency case, discharged in good health, says DG

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said that former prime minister Najib Razak was admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) on Sept 9 as an elective, non-emergency case to ensure that his health was at "a good and optimum" level. 

In a statement, he said the checks and tests conducted on Najib were done by senior experts who were the heads of clinical services in their respective fields. 

"HKL also held family conferences twice, which were attended by the former prime minister and his family. 

"The results of the tests were announced during these conferences in accordance with professional medical practices.

"They were also informed of the unanimous decision by the experts that he be given the green light for discharge from HKL," he said, adding that Najib had been in good health prior to his discharge. 

"The medication prescribed to him at the time of his admission was also of the same type and included in the health ministry's medication list."

Najib's 1MDB trial earlier today was cut short after the court was told that the former prime minister needed medical attention as the high blood pressure medication he was prescribed was having adverse effects.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who is leading the prosecution team, told the judge that he was informed by a Kajang Prison Department officer that Najib’s condition was "quite bad".

"The accused’s medication for blood pressure has been changed and it has had adverse effects on him," he said. 

In the 1MDB case, Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from the state investment fund and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The Pekan MP was sent to Kajang Prison on Aug 23 to begin serving a 12-year jail term for his SRC International case, after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal against his conviction for the misappropriation of RM42 million.