Malaysia PM Anwar back home after surgery

Just three words: "Alhamdulillah (Thank God), back home."

That's what Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim posted on Facebook at about 9.30pm on Wednesday (Aug 12), two days after undergoing an elective laparoscopic surgery to treat a para-umbilical hernia on Aug 10.

Besides announcing his discharge from hospital, the post showed him reading Francis Fukuyama's In the Realm of the Last Man, which is slated for release this September.

The book reflects on five decades of modern history, from Fukuyama's Japanese-American family background during World War II to his dramatic split from the neoconservative movement over the Iraq war. 

It also details his relationships with early mentors such as Allan Bloom, as well as his views on foreign intervention and laissez-faire economics.

Earlier on Wednesday, Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, told Malaysian media after attending an event at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall that Anwar was expected to be discharged from hospital that same day. 

She also conveyed Anwar's regards and thanked well-wishers who had prayed for the prime minister's health and recovery.

Malaysia's 10th prime minister, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, had apologised in a statement on Tuesday for being unable to attend a special sitting of Parliament to debate a royal commission of inquiry report on the country's Muslim pilgrims' fund, Lembaga Tabung Haji.

However, he said he would follow the debate closely to ensure that public confidence in the institution is maintained.

The prime minister later shared a parliamentary livestream on his Facebook page.

While Anwar did not indicate if he is still on medical leave, the septuagenarian said in a separate Facebook post on Wednesday evening that he would be meeting with Brunei's ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, during the Brunei-Malaysia Annual Leadership Consultation next week. 

After sharing that he was back home, Anwar also paid tribute to former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who died on Wednesday at the age of 97. 

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editor@asiaone.com