Remembering Dr Hasmah: 10 glimpses of a remarkable life
From becoming a doctor before Merdeka to performing on stage at 99, she never lost her appetite for learning and self-improvement.
Born as Dr Hasmah Ali, the 100-year-old medical practitioner, musician, and lifelong learner left behind a remarkable legacy. In the decade since her passing, numerous anecdotes shared by her family and friends offer glimpses into the life of this inspiring figure.
1. Hasmah embraced medicine long before becoming a prominent public figure. After World War II, she became the only Malay woman in her batch at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, graduating in 1955. It was during her housemanship at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital that her journey to public service began.
2. Her path crossed with that of Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, during their time at medical school. Mahathir later became a central figure in Malaysian politics, working in government service before establishing his own clinic in Alor Setar. The two became close friends, with Hasmah crediting Mahathir's tutoring in physics for helping her through medical school.
3. Upon marriage in 1956, Hasmah dedicated herself to improving maternal and child health. In 1974, she became Kedah's first woman state maternal and child health officer. Through her work and writing, she addressed family medicine and the social and economic aspects of pregnancy and childbirth.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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