Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad mourns wife Siti Hasmah after 70 years of marriage

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appeared visibly distressed as he prepared to bid farewell to his beloved wife, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, who had passed away at the age of 100 on September 28. The Instagram video by Sinar Daily captured Mahathir's emotional state as he laid her to rest. Anwar Ibrahim, the current Malaysian Prime Minister, was present and shook hands with Mahathir before paying his final respects to Hasmah at Masjid As-Syarif.

She had died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur around 9:25am on the same day, according to Free Malaysia Today. Her son, Mokhzani Mahathir, confirmed the news to The New Straits Times. Mahathir also shared his wife's passing on his Instagram. The Malaysian Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, conveyed his condolences to Hasmah's family.

Born in Klang, Selangor in 1926, she was one of Malaysia's first female doctors after studying medicine at Singapore's King Edward VII College of Medicine in the 1950s. It was there that she first met Mahathir, who is now 101 years old. In 1974, under Malaysia's Ministry of Health, Hasmah became the first woman appointed as the State Maternal and Child Health Officer in Kedah.

As the Prime Minister's wife, she continued to champion causes such as family planning, mental health, and drug abuse prevention. Following the announcement of her passing in Parliament, a brief Islamic prayer was held in her honor.