Siti Hasmah was a respected figure in Malaysian society, recognized both for her own professional achievements and her role as the political spouse of the nation’s longest-serving prime minister. Born in Klang, Selangor, on July 20, 1925, she pursued a career in medicine, becoming one of the first Malay female medical officers in Malaya. She obtained her medical degree from King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, which is the predecessor to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, graduating in 1955.
After joining the Health Ministry, she served as a medical officer in various parts of the country, including Kedah. Her professional work focused heavily on public health, maternal and child healthcare, and family planning. As the wife of a head of government, she further championed social causes such as literacy promotion, the prevention of drug abuse, and mental health support.
Siti Hasmah met Mahathir Mohamad while they were both attending medical school in Singapore in the late 1940s. The couple married in 1956 and raised seven children, including businessman Mokhzani, social activist Marina Mahathir, and politician Mukhriz Mahathir. They recently celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary on August 5, marking 70 years of marriage. In July, Siti Hasmah celebrated her 100th birthday, and the following month, ASEAN Records recognized her as the oldest living wife of a former prime minister.
Her husband, Mahathir Mohamad, is now 101. He served as Malaysia’s Prime Minister for two distinct periods: from 1981 to 2003, and again from 2018 to 2020. During his first tenure, he oversaw a period of rapid industrial growth that transformed Malaysia into one of Southeast Asia’s economic powerhouses. He returned to office in 2018 after coming out of retirement to lead a coalition that toppled then-Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was implicated in the 1MDB financial scandal. His second term ended abruptly in 2020 following a collapse of his coalition government due to political infighting.
Siti Hasmah was known for her unassuming personality and good humour, a demeanor that often contrasted with her husband’s blunt and acerbic public style. Mahathir has frequently credited her as the backbone of his success. In a 2018 interview, he expressed admiration for her determination to obtain a university degree, a rarity among ethnic Malay women at the time, stating that it reflected her strength of character.
Following the announcement of her death, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah expressed their condolences to the family in a statement, praying for them to be given “the strength, resilience and patience in facing the loss of their loved one.”
Current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also paid his respects. Upon learning of the news during a public event, he asked the audience to recite a prayer for the departed. “May I share some sad news this morning. We have learned of the passing of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah. May Allah bless her soul,” Anwar said. Mahathir himself confirmed the death in a Facebook post, marking the end of a decades-long public partnership and a personal marriage that lasted seven decades.
