In a post on X, the two-time prime minister said Muslims should instead pray for Jamal’s recovery.

“And I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Jamal if I had wronged him,” he said.

Mahathir said he had read comments, calling for the former Umno firebrand to apologise to him for past remarks made against him for opposing Umno over the 1MDB scandal.

Yesterday, Berita Harian reported that Jamal’s health took a turn for the worse after his lung cancer spread to the brain.

Jamal is being treated at a private hospital in Ampang, where he has been hospitalised since Saturday.

Mahathir and Jamal were once bitter political foes, with tensions peaking during Najib Razak’s tenure as prime minister.

Jamal was a staunch defender of Umno and an outspoken critic of Mahathir after the latter left the party and formed Bersatu before the 2018 general election.

As part of the pro-Umno “Red Shirts” movement, Jamal organised street protests against Mahathir and his allies, accusing them of betraying Malay interests after joining hands with DAP.