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Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali passed away at the age of 100 at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur, today, 28 September
Before marrying Malaysia's longest-serving and two-time prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Dr Siti Hasmah had already built an impressive list of achievements, including becoming one of the first female doctors in Malaya before and after British colonial rule.
Born in 1926 in Kampung Jawa, Klang, Selangor, she was the sixth child of 10 siblings.
Her father, Hj Mohd Ali, was a government officer, while her mother, Hajah Siti Khatijah bt Ahmad, was a housewife, according to the Perdana Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation that Tun Dr Mahathir is the honourary president of.
Before pursuing tertiary education, Dr Siti Hasmah studied at Methodist Girls' School in Kuala Lumpur, St Mary's School, and later Pudu English School.
After World War II, she enrolled in King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore on a scholarship, becoming the only Malay female student in the batch.
It was at the college that she met Dr Mahathir, who also enrolled in the same year.
In 1955, Dr Siti Hasmah graduated and began her housemanship at General Hospital Kuala Lumpur
A year later, Dr Siti Hasmah and Dr Mahathir married.
She then moved to Kedah with Dr Mahathir, and served as a medical officer at the Alor Setar General Hospital.
Together, they have seven children — three girls and four boys.
In 1965, before turning 40, she became the first woman to be appointed a medical officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department in Kedah. In 1974, she became the state's first woman to be appointed State Maternal and Child Health Officer.
She was credited with dramatically reducing infant mortality in Kedah, from 75 deaths per 1,000 births to just six during her stint, reported FMT.
As one of the first Malay women doctors, she broke new ground and made a significant impact at a time when opportunities for women were limited.
Her role as a doctor extended beyond hospital wards and consultation rooms
She took on leadership roles in promoting various health campaigns, including maternal health, childhood development, and drug abuse awareness.
Below is a list of positions she had held over the years, according to the Perdana Leadership Foundation:
- President of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association
- Chairperson of the Kedah Family Planning Association
- President of the Malaysian Medical Association Foundation
- President of the Association for the Rehabilitation of Handicapped Children
- Vice President of the Federation of Family Planning Associations of Malaysia
- Patron of the Malaysian Association of Maternal Health and Neonate
- Patron of the Malaysian Pediatric Association
- President of Welfare Club of the Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers
In 1985, she was invited by then-US first lady Nancy Reagan to attend the First Ladies' Conference on Drug Abuse in Washington, DC. Two years later, she represented Malaysia at the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Vienna.
Her work in public health advocacy and medicine also earned her honorary doctorates from several overseas institutions, including University of Indiana, USA; University of Victoria, Canada; the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin, Ireland; and University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Locally, she also received honourary doctorates from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and several other institutions.
Dr Siti Hasmah retired from government service in 1979 and went on to serve as a lecturer at the University of Malaya's Dental Faculty until 1981, when her husband became Malaysia's fourth prime minister.
Dr Siti Hasmah was also the only prime minster's wife to have been conferred the title of Tun
She stood by Dr Mahathir through the ups and downs of his political career, from his early years of falling out with Tunku Abdul Rahman to his 22-year tenure as prime minister, and eventual return to the position at the age of 92.
As someone who disliked politics, she made countless sacrifices for Dr Mahathir, especially during his second term as prime minister.
In 2019, Dr Mahathir's trips to London and Vienna worried her, as temperatures in the cities dropped to -5°C and -6°C. As a doctor and someone who understood her husband well, she knew the cold weather could aggravate his sinus problems and cause his nose to become blocked.
During the trip, she cared for him by preparing nasal drops and taking precautions to prevent any illness that could affect his lungs, which were not in good condition, she told The Malaysian Reserve in an interview that year.
She was also concerned that Dr Mahathir had to speak frequently during the trip, adding to her worries about his health.
As Dr Mahathir had some hearing difficulties, Dr Siti Hasmah was also constantly worried that he might say something wrong, citing the Oxford Union debate during the trip as an example.
"My husband couldn't hear what they said. The questions were posed to him, he didn't get the question correctly because of his hearing, and he gave them all the wrong answers. That is not good. If I had been close to him, I would have cautioned him," she said.
"Sometimes, I wish I had an earpiece, and he has one too. I can communicate and say, 'No, you're wrong'. I always fear that he might say the wrong things," she added, chuckling.
Dr Siti Hasmah never stopped learning and growing.
She picked up the violin again in her 80s after putting it aside when she was young, and went on to perform frequently at public events.
She even performed alongside stars, such as Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk M Nasir, and Datuk Jamal Abdillah.
Beyond music, she also wrote two memoirs, My Name Is Hasmah and Speaking of Mass Destruction, offering candid insights into her life.
From pioneering doctor to the wife of a prime minister, Dr Siti Hasmah's life reflects resilience, compassion, humility, and progress, values that will continue to inspire the nation in the present day and beyond.
