CONTROVERSIAL preacher Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has drawn criticism for questioning the presence of government leaders at the funeral of the late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
In a Facebook post, Ridhuan Tee questioned the motives of those who turned up to pay their respects to the wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, prompting a wave of criticism from social media users.
Ridhuan Tee said he arrived at Masjid As-Syarif in Taman Sungai Besi Indah before 4pm on Monday to pay his respects to Siti Hasmah.
He said he saw the “conduct of those in power”, accusing them of showing little regard for Siti Hasmah while she was alive before coming forward to pay tribute after her death.
“I saw the conduct of those in power. When she was alive, even during the Merdeka celebrations, she was not given any attention.
“Now that she has died, they want to show that they care. It is truly sad to watch this performance,” he wrote.
Ridhuan Tee also referred to the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, claiming that Daim had continued to face pressure until the end of his life.
“Only now do I understand the ways of those in power. When someone dies, only then do they remember them and want to show how great they are.
“When they were alive, they simply did not care, despite their contributions. Is this the game of the world in the end times?” he wrote.
‘Adabul ikhtilaf’
The post had attracted more than 2,500 comments at the time of writing, with several users questioning Ridhuan Tee’s decision to speculate about the intentions of those who attended the funeral.
Facebook user Sharil Shahari wrote: “Others come to a grieving home carrying prayers. He comes carrying a scale to weigh the intentions of others.”
Mohsin Sani questioned the decision to raise political issues in connection with the funeral, saying it could fuel further hostility and division among political supporters.
Hashim Suboh, meanwhile, urged Ridhuan Tee not to allow prejudice to influence his views, particularly when commenting on a grieving family.
He said political differences should be handled with restraint and respect.
“Those of us involved in politics, and perhaps more ignorant than you, would not dare make a statement that is so discourteous and so far removed from the proper conduct of disagreement,” he wrote. – October 1, 2026
