PUTRAJAYA: Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has expressed her family’s gratitude to members of the public who continue to offer prayers for her late mother, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and visit her grave.
Marina said the family was deeply touched by the public’s concern, including those who had travelled from afar to pay their respects at her mother’s burial site.
"Every time I visit the grave, I see many people coming. Our whole family is truly grateful for their prayers and visits. I know some have even travelled from far away.
"We are all deeply touched and thankful for their prayers,” she said when met at a memorial service for the late Tun Dr Hasmah at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here on Tuesday (Oct 13).
The event was attended by about 200 people, most of them former staff members of the foundation.
Also present was Marina’s father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, along with their children Marina, Mirzan Mahathir, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Marina said the tahlil ceremony and prayers had also helped the family cope with the loss of her mother, who passed away about two weeks ago.
"It is still hard to believe she is gone. It has only been two weeks, but ceremonies like this help calm our hearts,” she said.
Asked what she missed most about her mother, Marina said she missed everything about her, describing her as someone who was always full of energy.
"Everything. Everything. She was so full of life.
"Sometimes I want to ask her something, or leave a message about something, or tell her about something, then I realise I can no longer do that. That is the hard part," she said tearfully.
In related developments, Marina said her father, Tun Dr Mahathir, who is still being treated at the National Heart Institute (IJN), is improving.
She said Tun Dr Mahathir was getting stronger, could speak and had expressed a desire to eat.
"He is getting healthier. He can talk and wants to eat, so that is good. He is almost back to how he was before,” she said.
The memorial service began with the recitation of Surah Yasin, followed by tahlil and prayers for safety. It concluded with the Zuhur prayer and a luncheon. — Bernama
