FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has paid a personal tribute to his wife of 70 years, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, following her death at the age of 100 at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur today.
In his first public acknowledgement of her death, Dr Mahathir posted a photograph of Siti Hasmah on his official Facebook account with the words “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un” — “Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
The photograph stated her dates of birth and death as July 12, 1926 to Sept 28, 2026, accompanied by a prayer asking Allah to forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her well-being and pardon her.
Siti Hasmah died at about 9.20 am, with her death confirmed by their son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir.
Mahathir and Siti Hasmah married in 1956 and had four children — Marina, Mirzan, Mokhzani and Mukhriz — as well as three adopted children, Melinda, Mazhar and Maizura.
The couple were married for seven decades, including Mahathir’s two periods as prime minister.
Siti Hasmah also built a public career of her own as a doctor and advocate for healthcare and community welfare, remaining a prominent figure alongside Mahathir throughout his years in public life.
Her death also drew condolences from Istana Negara, with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah, state Rulers and a host of leaders across Malaysia expressing sympathy to the family and praying that Siti Hasmah would be placed among the righteous and those who performed good deeds. - September 28, 2026
