{
  "id": 10813479,
  "title": "At this old Alor Setar clinic, a quieter memory of Hasmah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/at-this-old-alor-setar-clinic-a-quieter-memory-of-hasmah-10813479",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/30/at-this-old-alor-setar-clinic-a-quieter-memory-of-hasmah"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1957, Maha Klinik opened in Pekan Melayu, Alor Setar, long before Dr Hasmah Ali rose to become a prominent public figure in Malaysia. The clinic was established after Hasmah married former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, as stated by long-time staff member Mercy Samuel, who has worked there for nearly 50 years. The clinic's name is a fusion of Mahathir and Hasmah's names.\n\nSamuel recounted how Hasmah and Mahathir met while studying together in Singapore and later decided to open their own clinic. After their marriage, Mahathir decided to leave public service to run the clinic. Maha Klinik was later relocated to Jalan Sultan Badlishah in 1979, following Mahathir's departure from the day-to-day operations.\n\nDespite the relocation, the clinic remained closely connected to the couple's Alor Setar roots. When they visited, they would check in on the staff and, during Ramadan, offer to share a meal with them at the home of a relative. These interactions are among the cherished memories Samuel holds in light of Hasmah's recent passing.\n\nHasmah's medical career was noteworthy; she was one of Malaysia's early Malay women doctors and played a significant role in public health work, focusing on maternal and child health, immunisation, and the welfare of rural communities. Together with Mahathir, she would travel to rural areas to provide medical care to those with limited access. Even after their departure from the clinic, Mahathir continued to treat those in need for free, a practice that is still maintained at Maha Klinik today.\n\nFor many, Maha Klinik is a familiar landmark in Alor Setar, but for those who have spent decades at the clinic, it holds a deeply personal significance. It serves as a reminder of the early years of two doctors who began their married life long before either achieved national fame, and it embodies the contributions of a woman whose medical and public health impact extended far beyond her clinic.",
  "summary": "Longtime staff remember the pioneering doctor through visits, shared meals, and a name that has remained linked to her and Mahathir for nearly seven decades.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "At this old Alor Setar clinic, a quieter memory of Hasmah",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/at-this-old-alor-setar-clinic-a-quieter-memory-of-hasmah",
        "published": "2026-09-29T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}