More than 500 Pejuang delegates rose to their feet to cheer Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he entered the hall in a wheelchair in Shah Alam today, his first appearance at a political event since the death of his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Ali.

The 101-year-old former prime minister arrived as his son, Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir, was wrapping up his presidential address at the party’s fourth annual general assembly.

Greeted with handshakes and well-wishes, Mahathir sat in the front row alongside Perikatan Nasional chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and other coalition leaders.

Mahathir had written a special address for the assembly, which Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali read out on his behalf.