KUALA LUMPUR: Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, wife of Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and a prominent advocate for public health and social causes, died on Monday at the age of 100.
Her death was confirmed by Mahathir’s office. Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama, citing the couple’s son Mokhzani Mahathir, reported that Siti Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute. No further details were immediately available.
Siti Hasmah was a familiar and widely recognised figure in Malaysian public life during Mahathir’s decades-long political career. The couple met while studying medicine in Singapore in the late 1940s and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in August.
They raised seven children, including businessman Mokhzani Mahathir, social activist Marina Mahathir and politician Mukhriz Mahathir.
A physician by training, Siti Hasmah developed a public profile of her own and was particularly associated with causes related to public health, family planning and social welfare. She was also known for her understated manner and sense of humour.
Mahathir has previously credited his wife with playing an important role in his personal and political life, describing her as the backbone of his success. He had also spoken admiringly of her determination to pursue a university education at a time when higher education among Malay women was relatively uncommon.
Mahathir served as Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003, making him the country’s longest-serving premier. He returned to office in 2018 after coming out of retirement and became the world’s oldest serving prime minister at the time.
His second tenure ended in 2020 following the collapse of his governing coalition amid political turmoil.
Siti Hasmah remained alongside Mahathir throughout his long political career, becoming one of Malaysia’s most recognisable political spouses while maintaining her own identity as a doctor and advocate for health and social causes.
