Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the beloved wife of Malaysia’s longest-serving former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has passed away at the age of 100. The news was confirmed by the veteran leader’s office and shared by their son Mokhzani Mahathir. She died on Monday at the National Heart Institute. Further details about the cause were not immediately released.
Mahathir Mohamad, now 101, remains one of the most influential figures in Malaysian history. He served two terms as prime minister for a total of more than twenty years. During his first period in office from 1981 to 2003, he guided the nation through rapid industrial growth and helped turn Malaysia into one of Southeast Asia’s economic success stories. He returned to power in 2018 after coming out of retirement to lead a coalition that defeated the then-government linked to a major financial scandal. His second term lasted less than two years and ended in 2020 when the coalition broke apart due to internal political disputes.
The couple first met in the late 1940s while both were studying medicine in Singapore. They recently marked 70 years of marriage in August. Together they raised seven children, among them businessman Mokhzani Mahathir, social activist Marina Mahathir, and politician Mukhriz Mahathir.
Siti Hasmah was widely admired for her warm, modest nature and gentle sense of humour, which stood in clear contrast to her husband’s direct and often sharp speaking style. As a public figure in her own right, she actively supported causes related to public health, family planning, and social welfare. Mahathir once called her the true backbone of his achievements. He also expressed deep respect for her determination to complete a university degree at a time when very few ethnic Malay women had that opportunity. In a 2018 interview he said this quality showed her strong character.
Her quiet strength, lifelong partnership, and dedication to social causes left a lasting mark on many Malaysians who remember her fondly.
