One often re-told story in my house as I was growing up, and told specifically by my mother is how she was saved by Dr Mahathir . Yes the same one who ended up as PM twice.
Legend has it - I have to add this disclaimer because the story's spice level changed with my mother's mood - that some time in late 50s , my mum had developed severe food poisoning after eating mushrooms.
Back in the day, people used to gather mushrooms for cooking and if one is not experienced or knowledgeable , it's possible to gather and consume poisonous variety of mushrooms as well.
Generally most of these poisonous varieties can make you really sick and depending on the type of poisonous mushroom, quantity you ate and your own tolerance levels, in some cases its possible to have a fatality.
As my mother related, she became very ill and had breathing difficulty and was on the verge of death. ( This is where the spicy and gory details often changed with each retelling of the story).
As it was , she had to be rushed to a nearby doctor and as fate would have it, it was the clinic operated by Dr M. As it turns out Dr M had established Klinik Maha in 1957 and therefore the time period of this story was in late 50s.
And the brilliant doctor treated her and eased the symptoms with some injection and medication - I don't know of any specific antidote for mushroom poisoning though. Perhaps some carbon/charcoal pills to absorb some released toxins? Beats me - otherwise I would be a doctor wouldn't I?
And the conclusion of the story is usually one where she recovers after being on the verge. I can bet you, I have heard this story at least 20 times with different rendition, different tempo , excitement and extra spice.
Of course she was an ardent fan, follower and supporter of the doctor as he ventured forward into the other “profession”. She was among the hard core supporters and it took many years of “campaigning” before she switched sides, discarding the blue and opting for the red.
But she was ever grateful to him for saving her. Sometime early this year, I nudged her to retell the story since I hadn't heard a retelling in many years. But she refused and stared with a forlorn look and finally commented that she doesn't want to talk about him anymore. I think the reasons were and are obvious given all the wheeling and dealing of the recent years.
I remember stories I heard growing up and if you have elders in your household, probe them for “their” stories from yesteryears. You will get a first person account of things and events , which otherwise you have to just read from a book or some portal.
I haven't been around Alor Setar much in recent times , but I think the clinic is still standing.