Sufi Yusoff says Mahathir was admitted early Wednesday to the National Heart Institute after suffering from fever and cough for two days.

He says the 85-year-old former premier is receiving antibiotics and chest physiotherapy. Sufi says Mahathir is responding well to the treatment and expected to be discharged in a week.

Mahathir retired in late 2003 after 22 years in power. He has undergone two coronary bypass surgeries, the last in 2007.