Malaysian PM Anwar mourns death of Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Hasmah at 100

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has paid tribute to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, following her death at the age of 100 on Sunday.
Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of September 28. Her death was confirmed by her son, Mokhzani Mahathir. She is survived by Mahathir and their seven children.
In a post on social media, Anwar said he and his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, were deeply saddened by the news.
Reflecting on his personal memories of Hasmah, Anwar said they knew her affectionately as “Kak Hasmah,” recalling her as a gentle and soft-spoken person who nevertheless possessed considerable strength and resilience.
He described her as a caring figure whose warmth extended to those around her, saying Malaysia had lost someone regarded by many as a maternal figure.
Anwar extended his condolences to Mahathir and the wider family, while offering prayers for Hasmah and strength for those mourning her death.
The Malaysian government has announced that Hasmah will be accorded a state funeral, with Anwar directing senior government and military officials to assist with the arrangements.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah have also offered their condolences to Hasmah’s family, joining political leaders and public figures in mourning her death.
Born in Klang, Selangor, on July 12, 1926, Hasmah was among the pioneering generation of Malay women to enter the medical profession.
She studied at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, where she was the only Malay woman in her intake and where she first met Mahathir. She graduated as a doctor in 1955 before completing her housemanship at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital.
Hasmah and Mahathir married in Kuala Lumpur in August 1956 and later raised seven children together. Their marriage spanned seven decades, including Mahathir’s two periods as Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.
Her public profile, however, extended well beyond her role as the wife of Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.
During her medical career, Hasmah was closely involved in maternal and child healthcare. In 1965, she became the first woman appointed as a Medical Officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department in Kedah, and in 1974 became the first woman to serve as the state’s Maternal and Child Health Officer.
She was also involved in family planning, children’s welfare, rehabilitation, public health and efforts to combat drug abuse.
Over the years, Hasmah held roles with several organisations working in healthcare, children’s welfare and community development. She was also involved in initiatives supporting maternal health, paediatrics and the welfare of people with disabilities.
Her public health advocacy continued alongside her responsibilities during Mahathir’s years in government, making her one of Malaysia’s most recognisable public figures.
In his tribute, Anwar said Hasmah’s contributions and kindness would continue to be remembered, describing her passing as the loss of a figure who held a special place in the hearts of Malaysians.