KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): Tun Dr Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, died on Monday at the age of 100.

Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 9.20am, according to Bernama. Her remains were later laid to rest at Pusara Negara (National Heroes’ Mausoleum) in Precinct 20, Putrajaya.

Born on July 12, 1926, in Klang, Selangor, Hasmah was the sixth of 10 siblings in a prominent family.

Although popularly known as “Siti Hasmah”, Hasmah clarified in a podcast interview in 2024 that her name was only Hasmah. “Siti” was a name that was given to her by the public. (“Siti” is an Arabic honorific akin to “Lady”). Hasmah requested to henceforth only be referred to as Hasmah.

Among her siblings are Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali, who served as the second governor of Bank Negara Malaysia from 1962 to 1980 and was the inaugural chairman of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), former chief of the Armed Forces General Tun Hashim Mohd Ali, the 10th menteri besar of Selangor Tan Sri Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali and Tan Sri Saleha Mohd Ali, one of the founding mothers of Kaum Ibu, the women’s wing of Umno (now known as Wanita Umno).

Hasmah graduated from the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore and went on to serve in Malaysia’s public health system, with much of her early career focused on rural communities. She was among the first Malay women to become doctors when she began her career in the mid-1950s.

She married Mahathir on Aug 5, 1956, and later became the spouse of Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, accompanying him through his two terms in office, from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020 following the historic 14th general election.

But despite spending decades at the centre of Malaysian public life, Hasmah maintained a distinctly non-political stance.

In a 2018 interview with The Edge’s Options, she spoke about deliberately staying away from politics after marrying Mahathir.

“When I married Mahathir, I was still a government servant, and even at the time, no government servant would take part in politics. I’ve kept to that,” she said.

She said Mahathir also kept political matters away from their personal conversations, telling her that he did not want to burden her with matters that might cause her to worry.

“When he talks about someone who may have a negative impression of us, it shows on my face and he doesn’t like that,” she said, recalling how her husband would avoid discussing such matters with her.

Hasmah was also closely associated with Malaysian badminton. She served as patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia for more than two decades, including during the period when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup in 1992 after a 25-year wait.

Away from her public roles, she was known for her interest in music and remained active in her later years. In 2019, she performed on the violin at a charity event to raise funds for a good cause.

Her death comes just weeks after she and Mahathir were recognised by Asean Records and Asia Records as the region’s oldest living former head of government and spouse, after both reached the age of 100.

Hasmah is survived by seven children, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Condolences poured in following Hasmah’s death, reflecting the respect she commanded in Malaysia and abroad.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Hasmah would be accorded a state funeral, and said her service and devotion to the nation would be remembered.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah also expressed their condolences over Hasmah’s demise and prayed for her to be counted by God as being amongst the righteous.

DAP and PAS leaders also took to social media to express their condolences.

Across the causeway, former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong also expressed his condolences.

“Her zest for life was remarkable. As a doctor, she devoted much of her life to improving the health and well-being of Malaysians, particularly women, children, and families. Ho Ching and I will remember Tun Siti Hasmah fondly,” Lee said.

Among the attendees at Hasmah’s funeral late on Monday afternoon were Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tengku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and National Laureate Datuk Seri A Samad Said.

Mahathir, looking his age for once, sat in a wheelchair by the side of the grave, as his beloved wife of 70 years was laid to rest.

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