Mahathir Mohamad’s Wife, Siti Hasmah, Passes Away at 100
Malaysia Mourns Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, Public Health Pioneer and Mahathir Mohamad’s Wife
Kabarsaji.com – Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a physician whose public-health work and steady presence in Malaysian public life spanned generations, died on Monday, September 28, 2026. She was 100.
She died at about 9:20 a.m. at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. Her son, Mokhzani Mahathir, confirmed the death to Bernama. Siti Hasmah was the wife of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who at 101 remains Malaysia’s longest-serving former head of government.
Mahathir shared his sorrow in a social-media post accompanied by a photograph of his wife, drawing an immediate wave of condolences from the public.
May God forgive her, have mercy on her and grant her peace.
State funeral honors a lasting national figure
Siti Hasmah received a full state funeral and was buried at 4:30 p.m. at Pusara Negarawan, the national cemetery in Precinct 20, Putrajaya. The ceremony reflected her standing not merely as the spouse of a political leader, but as a respected doctor and advocate in her own right.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led a prayer during a public event earlier in the day and described her as a maternal figure whose service would remain part of the nation’s memory. Condolences were also extended by King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, who offered prayers for strength and patience to her family.
The loss was felt beyond Malaysia. Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong remembered Siti Hasmah for her warmth, lively spirit and enduring love of music. Her violin remained an important part of her life even in her 90s, when she performed for charitable causes.
As a doctor, she devoted much of her life to improving the health and well-being of Malaysians, particularly women, children, and families.
That description captures a central part of Siti Hasmah’s legacy. While she became widely known through Mahathir’s political career, her own professional path began long before his years at the center of Malaysian government.
A doctor from an early generation of Malay women graduates
Born in Klang, Selangor, on July 12, 1926, Siti Hasmah belonged to one of the earliest cohorts of ethnic Malay women to enter medicine. She completed her medical degree in 1955 at Singapore’s King Edward VII College of Medicine, an institution that preceded the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore.
Her years as a student also shaped her personal future. She met Mahathir in the late 1940s, and the pair married in 1956. Their partnership ultimately lasted seven decades; they marked their 70th wedding anniversary on August 5, 2026.
After graduating, Siti Hasmah became the first woman appointed as a medical officer in Kedah, Mahathir’s home state. At a time when advanced education remained uncommon for Malay women, that appointment represented both a professional milestone and an example for women pursuing careers beyond traditional expectations.
Her medical experience informed the causes she championed throughout her public life. Maternal care, family planning, literacy, mental-health awareness and the prevention of drug abuse were among the issues to which she gave sustained attention. These were family- and community-centered concerns that made her public role especially meaningful to many Malaysians.
As the wife of a prime minister, she had a national platform. Yet her standing was also rooted in the work she had already undertaken as a doctor, as well as the accessible and calm manner for which she became known. Her softer public style often contrasted with Mahathir’s more forceful political approach, while the couple remained closely associated in the public imagination.
A family life intertwined with Malaysian public life
Siti Hasmah and Mahathir raised seven children. Their family includes businessman Mokhzani Mahathir, social activist Marina Mahathir and politician Mukhriz Mahathir. Over the decades, the family’s personal milestones often unfolded alongside major chapters in Malaysia’s political history.
Mahathir regularly spoke of his wife’s determination and the significance of her education. In a 2018 interview with CNN, he reflected on the resolve that led her to university at a time when such an opportunity was rare for Malay women.
That, I think, reflects her strength of character.
In August 2026, ASEAN Records recognized Siti Hasmah as the Oldest Living Spouse of a Former Prime Minister. The designation came only weeks before her death and underscored the extraordinary length of a life lived through Malaysia’s transformation from the colonial era to the present day.
Her final public encounters also left an impression of the personality remembered in tributes: humorous, gentle and unassuming. Two days before her death, former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and his fiancée, Bella Astillah, visited her for advice before their planned wedding. Syed Saddiq later recalled her warmth and humor, sharing an image from the visit in which she held a teddy bear.
For Malaysians, Siti Hasmah’s life represents more than a long association with political power. It reflects an era in which women such as her entered professional fields in greater numbers, and it demonstrates how medical training and public advocacy can shape national conversations about families, health and social well-being.
Her death closes a remarkable chapter for the Mahathir family and for Malaysia. The tributes following her passing point to a legacy built on service, resilience, affection for others and an enduring commitment to the welfare of ordinary people.
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