(Adds son's quotes)

By Jalil Hamid

LANGKAWI, Malaysia, May 14 (Reuters) - Veteran Malaysian politician, Mahathir Mohamad, was admitted to hospital in intensive care on Monday with breathing difficulties, doctors said, only six months after he suffered a mild heart attack.

Mahathir, 81, a former prime minister who ruled Malaysia for 22 years until late 2003, continues to be a force on the political scene, more recently criticising his hand-picked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"He was having breathing difficulty," said aide Sufi Yusoff. "They took him to Langkawi Hospital at 3:50 pm (0750 GMT). He is being held for observation at the intensive care unit."

Doctors said his condition was stable and that he remained conscious.

Mahathir's children flew into Langkawi late on Monday to be with their father at the government-run hospital.

"The situation needs some monitoring but it is not critical," Mukhriz Mahathir, his youngest son, told reporters. "We are very optimistic that he will be able to recover from this small episode."

Mukhriz said he did not know how long Mahathir, who was in Langkawi for a holiday, would remain in hospital but said his father might be moved to Kuala Lumpur if the situation improved.

Mahathir had suffered a mild heart attack in November last year, about six months after he launched a withering political attack on the new administration, accusing it of scrapping important state projects he had approved before retiring from office.

Mahathir, who kept a hectic schedule despite his retirement, has a history of heart trouble. He had bypass surgery in 1989.

Mahathir's stint in the hospital comes a day after his 67-year-old successor Abdullah was overcome by heat during an outdoor function on Sunday outside Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah had to sit down after suddenly appearing dazed and shaky on his feet, according to an aide, and the premier later underwent heart and blood tests, revealing that Abdullah was fine.

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