Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin is confident that the wedding of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim at the end of the month will be held as planned following positive development after nine days of treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur.

According to her, Adib, 24, is recuperating well and is under continuous monitoring by IJN.

“I believe Adib will regain his health soon but he still needs intensive treatment,” she said when met by reporters after visiting the injured fireman at the institute today.

Meanwhile, IJN chief clinical officer Dr Aizal Azan Abdul Rahim said Adib would still be in the Intensive Care Unit in IJN until he has fully recovered.

“Adib’s condition is 70 percent stable and the process of recovery will take time, we have to be patient.

“We are happy with Adib’s positive development and his recovery would be even more significant in two to three weeks,” he said.

According to an update from IJN, Adib’s left lung has shown early signs of recovery while his heart is functioning well on its own.

IJN said he had been making good progress since his life support system was changed to Veno-Venous ECMO system on Dec 2.

"He requires less oxygen and ventilator support since last night. He is also tolerating his feeding via a naso-gastric tube which provides almost 90 per cent of his daily requirements," the statement said.

Nevertheless, IJN said Muhammad Adib's kidney still required support from a dialysis machine although his renal blood parameters had improved.

"He's now undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation and limb exercise with our physiotherapist," it said.

IJN said Muhammad Adib and his parents thanked all Malaysians for the support and encouragement including prayers for his recovery.

Earlier this morning, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor spent almost 30 minutes visiting Adib.

“Today Muhammad Adib was able to show a thumbs-up gesture.

“He is conscious, he is still unable to speak but can hear,” Najib had said.

Adib was earlier reported to be seriously injured after being attacked by rioters while on duty near the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya last Tuesday.

- Bernama