PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the passing of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, came unexpectedly.
The former premier said he did not expect her to pass away so soon, adding "she was quite well last night (on Sunday, Sept 27)” during a condolence visit by the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, at his residence in Seri Kembangan on Monday (Sept 28).
A video of the visit, uploaded by Dr Mahathir on Facebook, showed him thanking the Pahang Ruler and members of the royal family for travelling from Pahang to pay their last respects.
“Coming all the way from Pahang? Thank you very much,” he said.
Al-Sultan Abdullah, who was accompanied by Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, offered words of comfort to Dr Mahathir.
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“Allah loved Tun Hasmah more. Tun, you must take care of yourself,” the Pahang Ruler told Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir also thanked the Pahang royal family for making the journey to offer their condolences.
Dr Siti Hasmah died at about 9.25am on Monday (Sept 28) at the National Heart Institute (IJN). She was 100.
She had been admitted to IJN for another health ailment before suffering a sudden heart problem.
Her son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, said the family was grateful to have had time with Dr Siti Hasmah in the period leading up to her death.
“I’m very happy that we had so much time to share with her. We’ve had many family gatherings in the last months, weeks, days. So, we had a lot of memories,” he told reporters after his mother’s funeral.
Meanwhile, Mokhzani’s younger brother, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, said their mother had indicated that she was prepared to leave before her death.
Mukhriz said Dr Siti Hasmah had been admitted to IJN on Saturday, but her condition became critical after she suffered a heart attack at about 8am.
Dr Siti Hasmah was laid to rest at the National Mausoleum in Precinct 20, Putrajaya, following a state funeral.
She and Dr Mahathir had been married for 70 years since 1956 and had seven children. Dr Mahathir served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.
A doctor by profession, Dr Siti Hasmah was widely known for her work in public health, particularly maternal and child health, family planning, women’s welfare and community health.
She was also involved in social and charitable causes, and served as president of the Welfare Association of the Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.
Dr Siti Hasmah celebrated her 100th birthday on July 12, while the couple marked their 70th wedding anniversary on Aug 5.
