KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, a prominent lawyer known for his kindness in helping a struggling mother charged with shoplifting 25 years ago, is recovering from his illness and is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.
TikTok user @evarizarina, in her latest post, shared that her father, fondly known as Tok Mat, tested positive for influenza B.
She added that her father underwent an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an electroencephalogram (EEG) during his stay at the hospital.
"Alhamdulillah, daddy is recovering. His oxygen level has improved to a normal range.
"He has one more test to undergo. Insya-Allah, if all goes well, daddy can be discharged from the hospital tomorrow," she said in a clip uploaded on her TikTok account over 18 hours ago.
She also expressed hope that those who know her father would continue to pray for his speedy recovery.
At the same time, she hoped that her father would take some rest after being discharged from the hospital, as he is a workaholic and deeply passionate about his work.
"Anyone who knows Tok Mat knows that all he ever thinks about is work.
"In fact, the first thing he asked for when he was admitted to the hospital was his laptop," she said.
It was reported that Ahmad Zaharil, also known as the "Pencil Case Lawyer," was rushed to the hospital last Friday due to a fever and is currently under medical care.
Ahmad Zaharil captured the hearts of social media users when the story of his defence of a woman arrested and charged in court for stealing a pencil case in 1998 resurfaced on social media in 2023.
The woman, facing financial difficulties, had stolen the RM18 pencil case to give to her child, who had secured first place in school.
Moved by her circumstances, Ahmad Zaharil took on her defense pro bono, securing a reduced sentence to spare her from imprisonment.