KOTA KINABALU: Behind the high-profile world of Malaysian politics, the late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali was the quiet anchor of her family and shared a deeply affectionate, joyful bond with her husband, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Former Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Tham Nyip Shen recalled this warm dynamic from a four-day Class of '47 reunion at Kinabalu Park in late 1994, where the couple set aside political protocol to interact freely with former classmates.
"She immediately struck me as a very humble, soft-spoken woman," Tham said on Monday (Sept 28). "Yet as she spoke in her gentle manner, you could tell she was highly intelligent and able to discuss various issues with confidence."
Tham fondly remembered lighthearted moments that showed their typical husband-and-wife relationship—from Dr Mahathir grumbling when he caught her playing badminton against his advice, to Dr Siti Hasmah gently teasing him while fussing over his daily diet.
"I found their interactions very heartwarming. I believe Dr Hasmah was the rock of the marriage and family who kept them together amid her husband's intense political life," Tham said, noting that years later at a forum in Hong Kong, she still instantly recognized him and recalled their Kinabalu Park meeting.
Extending his condolences to Dr Mahathir and his family, Tham praised her lasting legacy: "It will be a long time before the nation sees another woman like Dr Hasmah, with her qualities of humility, kindness, and intellect."
