IT was with much sadness that I learned of the passing of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali yesterday, aged 100. I have known her since at least early 1979, when we met during my diplomatic assignment in Hong Kong.
As a young diplomat raring to impress Tun Dr Mahathir Moha-mad, then Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, I had arranged dinner at a prestigious restaurant that served mostly seafood and vegetables – only to discover halfway through the dinner that Dr Mahathir did not particularly relish fish and was assiduously avoiding all forms of it.
I was deeply embarrassed, apologised, and wanted to order something else. Dr Mahathir was obviously not impressed but Dr Siti Hasmah graciously intervened and told me not to order anything else. She later told me that we should not fuss unduly about food preferences as there would always be something on the table to eat.
Later I was to meet the then prime ministerial couple in several different cities; both Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah were consistently gracious and impeccable guests.
On one visit to Monterrey, Mexico, the best food I had discovered was barbecued cabrito (young goat) served with a delightfully burning chilli sauce.
This time I already knew Dr M’s preferences, that he was not a fan of mutton, but when I broached the idea of eating at the restaurant anyway, he surprisingly agreed to try the dish. We had a delightful evening there.
Subsequently, Dr Siti Hasmah would always have a nice gift from her visits to Argentina for our daughter, Aarani, and she always signed them as being from “Amachee” (grandmother).
I had occasion to spend hours with Dr Siti Hasmah when Dr Mahathir was on his horse-riding marathons in Argentina’s mountainous Mendoza region; I did not ride, so I didn’t join him.
She and I would visit local places of interest. Argentina, being a Catholic country, had many beautiful shrines located on hill-slopes, and Dr Siti Hasmah was always enthusiastically curious about these places, and the local history.
It was a great privilege for my family and me to have met and known this genial, gracious, and unfailingly generous lady who was an excellent conversationalist, connoisseur of fine food, and a cosmopolitan, cultured spirit.
DATUK M. SANTHANANABAN
Kajang, Selangor
The letter writer is a retired diplomat with more than 45 years of experience in the public sector; he is currently deputy president of the United Nations Association of Malaysia.
