Siti Hasmah passes away: Dr Mahathir's wife, pioneer Malay woman doctor dies at 100

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a pioneering Malaysian woman doctor and wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, died today at the age of 100.

She died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) this morning, with her death confirmed by her son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir. She is survived by her husband and 7 children. (Malay Mail)

Born on July 12, 1926, in Kampung Jawa, Klang, Selangor, Dr Siti Hasmah was among the earliest Malay women to pursue a medical degree.

She studied at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore on a government scholarship and was the only Malay woman in her medical cohort.

It was there that she met Mahathir, whom she married on Aug 4, 1956.

After completing her medical studies, she served as a medical officer at Alor Setar General Hospital.

She went on to make history in Malaysia's public health service, becoming the first woman appointed as a medical officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department of Kedah in 1965.

In 1974, she became the state's first woman State Maternal and Child Health Officer.

Her work focused on maternal and child health, family planning and healthcare in rural communities.

During her career, she was also involved in numerous health campaigns and wrote on family medicine and the socioeconomic factors associated with pregnancy and childbearing.

Beyond medicine, Dr Siti Hasmah held leadership and patron roles in numerous organisations, including the Malaysian Girl Guides Association, Malaysian Medical Association Foundation, Association for the Rehabilitation of Handicapped Children and Federation of Family Planning Associations of Malaysia.

She also served as president of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), where she was involved in efforts to educate young people about the dangers of drug abuse.

Her advocacy extended to women's welfare, mental health, youth development and family well-being.

In 1995, she led the Malaysian delegation to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where she delivered a keynote address on equality, development and peace.

Dr Siti Hasmah was also an accomplished musician who played the violin and piano and remained passionate about music throughout her life.

She was married to Mahathir for 70 years, and the couple had 7 children.

They marked their 70th wedding anniversary on Aug 5 this year.

In July, Dr Siti Hasmah marked her 100th birthday, while Mahathir celebrated his 101st birthday 2 days earlier.

The couple received recognition as the first former head of government and spouse to both become living centenarians, while Dr Siti Hasmah was recognised as the oldest living spouse of a former prime minister.

Throughout her public life, Dr Siti Hasmah was widely associated with public health, women's welfare and community service, while supporting Mahathir during his two periods as prime minister.

She served as Malaysia's First Lady during Mahathir's first tenure as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again when he returned to office from 2018 to 2020.

Her death marks the passing of one of Malaysia's pioneering women in medicine and a prominent figure in the country's public life.