KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – the oldest active politician in Malaysia – uploaded a video celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary with wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali today.
In the four-minute and 23-second video on YouTube, the couple shared stories on their early days of courting and how to make a marriage last a lifetime.
“We met when we went to medical college in 1947. That was the year I met her; we were both ‘freshies’,” said Dr Mahathir, reflecting on their student days at King Edward VII Medical College (KEMC) in Singapore. KEMC has subsequently become the Faculty of Medicine in Universiti Malaya.
The couple wore matching red tops in the video – Dr Mahathir in a fetching batik shirt, while Dr Siti Hasmah in an elegant samfoo – as they reminisced the early days of their romance and marriage.
In a very rare display of vulnerability, the Langkawi MP seemed bashful and embarrassed, as his wife described his efforts to woo her and beat seven other competitors.
“After a year in college, I got to know him better because I failed my first year. I didn’t know much about health sciences,” said Dr Siti Hasmah, referring to her husband.
“But someone was so kind to offer me free tuition (classes), and he was a ‘distinction kid’, so I accepted the offer.”
It is clear that she still has a strong romantic impact on her husband, as the latter displayed a brief, boyish side to his character with a cheeky grin, as she recalled his strategies to win her heart.
While Dr Siti Hasmah remained calm and composed in telling her story, Dr Mahathir tried, but failed to keep a straight face – which is unusual, as he is usually cool in public, especially when grilled by the media.
On whether the free tuition classes made her fall for her husband, Dr Siti Hasmah had one simple reply: “I guess so.”
“But we weren’t cordial all the time. We had our arguments, too.”
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir talked about how he was among several other students who tried to sweep Dr Siti Hasmah off her feet.
“At that time, there were only seven Malay students in the college and among them, only one girl.
“When going to lectures, everyone scrambled against one another to carry her books and get to know her better. I was one of them, but sometimes I would win.
“She would ask about physics, and I would help tutor her. I may have had a better chance compared with the rest who tried to get close to her,” recalled the nonagenarian, as his wife softly laughs in the background.
Though they would at times argue during the tuition classes, Dr Siti Hasmah revealed that her partner would make up for it by taking her out for meals.
The couple got married on August 5, 1956.
On the secret to a long marriage, Dr Mahathir said it is important to be tolerant towards each other.
However, both admitted that they do argue over small things, especially when Dr Siti Hasmah takes too long to get ready.
“You have to be tolerant. We are both different, and, sometimes, we feel like we want to get angry. But eventually you realise that people just won’t change,” said Dr Mahathir
“If she is going to be late, she is going to be late. It will be like forever, even now. So, now I’ll just be patient. What can we do when that is who she is?”
As a couple, they are complete opposites when it comes to being timely.
Apparently, Dr Mahathir is a “stickler for being on time”, while Dr Siti Hasmah is “always late”. He wants to be punctual for any invitation, whereas his partner needs time for make-up – leading to arguments in the early days of their marriage.
According to Dr Siti Hasmah, her husband used to be a romantic when he was younger, but has toned down as time has gone by.
“When we were younger, he was a romantic, but as age has caught up, it has become less,” she said, as her husband revealed his infamous smirk.
“But not to the point where he doesn’t want to hug or kiss me, he still does that.”
Giggling like a schoolboy next to her, Dr Mahathir waved away his wife’s statement, saying: “Don’t tell that to people.”
In Dr Siti Hasmah’s eyes, the most romantic moment that ever happened in their relationship was when her husband first confessed his love to her back in 1949.
“That was the most historical moment in my life, in 1949.” – The Vibes, August 5, 2021
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