KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Reuters) - Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad suffered another heart attack this week that led to breathing difficulties and him being admitted to hospital, his doctor said.

He is recovering well but would remain in the National Heart Institute for a few more days for physiotherapy, Bernama news agency quoted his doctor, Nasir Muda, as saying on Friday.

"I feel much better now," the 81-year-old former prime minister told Bernama, adding that doctors had told him to reduce his workload.

Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years until late 2003, was admitted to hospital on Monday after he suffered breathing difficulties while on holiday in the resort island of Langkawi. He was flown to the heart institute the next day. The institute said late on Thursday that Mahathir's breathing problems were caused by lung congestion that is "associated with myocardial infarction", or a heart attack.

Mahathir suffered a mild heart attack last November. A doctor himself, he has had a history of heart trouble and had bypass surgery in 1989.

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