Wife of Malaysia's longest-serving PM Mahathir dies aged 100

Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and a public health ​advocate, died today (28 September) at the age of 100, the veteran leader's office ‌said.

A funeral would be held on Monday evening (28 September), with Siti Hasmah to be buried at a Muslim cemetery in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya, Mahathir's office said, without providing further details.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences, announcing that she would be accorded a funeral with full state honours.

"The nation will continue to remember her motherly figure and appreciate her contributions and services," Anwar said in a statement.

Her husband Mahathir, 101, is credited with modernising Malaysia during two tenures as premier spanning more than two decades.

During his initial tenure from 1981 to 2003, Mahathir oversaw rapid industrialisation that transformed Malaysia into one of Southeast Asia's powerhouse economies.

He returned to office in 2018 as the world's oldest prime minister after emerging from retirement to defeat Najib Razak amid the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal. However, his coalition collapsed in 2020 amid internal political rivalries, cutting short his second term after less than two years.

The couple met while studying at medical school in Singapore in the late 1940s and marked their 70th wedding anniversary in August. They raised seven children, including businessman Mokhzani, social activist Marina Mahathir, and politician Mukhriz Mahathir.

A prominent and widely respected public figure, Siti Hasmah was celebrated for her unassuming nature and warmth, which often stood in contrast to her husband's sharp and combative political style.

She was the first woman appointed as a medical officer in Kedah, Mahathir's home state, and later used her platform as premier's spouse to champion maternal healthcare, family planning, and public health initiatives.

Mahathir frequently referred to her as the cornerstone of his achievements, noting his deep admiration for her resolve to earn a medical degree at a time when higher education was rare among ethnic Malay women.

"That, I think, reflects her strength of character," Mahathir told CNN in a 2018 interview.