REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUALA LUMPUR -- The condition of the famous cleric KH Arifin Ilham has arrived in Penang, Malaysia after being transferred from Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Jakarta. He is still undergoing treatment at Gleneagles Hospital, at George Town.

"Last night I met him. Alhamdulillah his condition was getting better," said Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Penang, Iwanshah Wibisono when contacted from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday (Jakarta 11).

He explained that ustaz Arifin arrived at Penang International Airport on Thursday (Jan 10) at around 09:30 local time using a private jet and accompanied by his wife, Wahyuniaty Al Waly and his mother. Iwanshah was waiting at the hospital ahead of the arrival of ustaz Arifin Ilham.

"I waited at the hospital to welcome the cleric's while some of the Indonesian Consulate staffs in Penang picked him up at the airport," he said.

Iwanshah said ustaz Arifin was immediately taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) upon arrival at the hospital. Ustaz Arifin then transferred to the isolation room.

According to Iwanshah, the doctors have let ustaz Arifin to be treated in the patient's room. "While undergoing treatment at Gleneagles Hospital, ustaz Arifin Ilham is handled by oncologist Dr. M Amir Shah" he said.

Iwanshah said that while in Penang, guests' visits were limited to give ustaz Arifin the opportunity to rest. Only close relatives and members of the Az-Dzikra Dhikr Assembly were allowed to visit him.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi also sent a message to take care of him, because ustaz Arifin belongs to the community and the people," he said.

Previously, ustaz Arifin had been treated at the Penang hospital for two months. He got chemotherapy as he suffered stage 4A nasopharyngeal and lymph cancer.

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