KUALA LUMPUR: The late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali is remembered as a gentle and loving maternal figure, as well as a close friend and confidante to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Anwar said the nation would continue to remember Dr Siti Hasmah's services and contributions, describing her as a motherly figure who treated everyone with affection and made them feel close to her and valued.
He said it was difficult for him and Dr Wan Azizah to accept her passing, especially as the fond memories they shared continued to return to their minds.
"Together with Azizah, I came to pay our last respects to Kak Hasmah, a maternal figure whose gentleness and affection we will always remember, as well as a friend and close companion over the years,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday (Sept 28).
The post was accompanied by photographs of him and his wife paying their respects and meeting her husband, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah also prayed for Dr Siti Hasmah's husband, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to be given strength to face the ordeal, as well as good health and the continued love and support of his family.
They also prayed for Allah SWT to forgive Dr Siti Hasmah, accept her good deeds and place her among His faithful and righteous servants.
"Thank you too, Kak Hasmah, for all your kindness to us, and certainly our prayers and memories will accompany you in your passing,” he said.
Dr Siti Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) this morning at the age of 100, leaving behind her husband and seven children.
Her remains were laid to rest at Precinct 20, Putrajaya at 6.20pm on Monday with a State Funeral ceremony. – Bernama
