Siti Hasmah, wife of former Malaysian PM Mahathir, dies aged 100

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, died on Monday, September 28, at the age of 100.

Her death follows a period of recent recognition for her longevity and status. Hasmah had celebrated her 100th birthday on July 12, and in the subsequent month, she was officially recognized by ASEAN Records as the Oldest Living Spouse of a Former Prime Minister. This distinction underscored her unique position in the region’s political history, a role she maintained for seven decades alongside her husband, who served as Malaysia’s prime minister for two distinct periods.

Hasmah’s personal history is inextricably linked to that of Mahathir, with whom she met in 1947 while both were students at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. They married in August 1956, and the couple marked their 70th wedding anniversary in August of this year. Their union produced four biological children: Marina, Mirzan, Mokhzani, and Mukhriz. The family also included three adopted children: Melinda, Mazhar, and Maizura.

Born the sixth child in a family of ten, Hasmah’s early life in Klang and her subsequent medical studies in Singapore positioned her as a figure who prefigured the aspirations of young Malaysian women during an era when opportunities for women were limited.

Professionally, Hasmah was a doctor who graduated in 1955, becoming one of the first Malay women to achieve this qualification. This milestone made her a trailblazer in a field that was largely inaccessible to women of her demographic at the time. She leveraged her medical background and her public platform as the prime minister’s wife to advocate for critical social issues, including maternal health, family planning, literacy, drug abuse prevention, and mental health.

Her advocacy work extended beyond public speaking to active leadership roles in civil society.

In her civic capacity, Hasmah served as president of Bakti, the welfare association of wives of ministers and deputy ministers, and as president of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association. She also held the position of chairman of the Kedah Family Planning Association and served as patron to numerous healthcare organizations. These roles allowed her to influence policy and social welfare initiatives directly, particularly in the northern state of Kedah, where Mahathir’s political career began.

Her involvement in these bodies reflected a sustained commitment to public service that paralleled her husband’s long tenure in government.

Mahathir, who is 101 years old, served as Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. His two terms in office covered decades of rapid economic development and political transformation in Malaysia. Hasmah’s presence during these periods provided a stable domestic foundation for Mahathir’s political activities, while her own public engagements addressed the social dimensions of the country’s modernization.

The couple’s long marriage and shared history have made them iconic figures in Malaysian public life, with their personal milestones often receiving national attention.

The passing of Hasmah prompted immediate reactions from the highest levels of the Malaysian establishment. Malaysian king Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar expressed his condolences in a Facebook post on Monday. In the statement, the Sultan noted that Their Majesties prayed that her entire family would be granted strength, fortitude, and patience in coping with the loss of their beloved family member.

This royal acknowledgment highlighted the respect accorded to Hasmah’s contributions to the nation and her family’s place in the country’s historical narrative.

In 2019, Hasmah underwent surgery to remove a breast lump that had been detected early. Following the procedure, she publicly urged women to embrace regular health checks, using her own experience to promote preventive healthcare. This advice was consistent with her lifelong advocacy for maternal and general health. Her final days were spent at the National Heart Institute, a facility dedicated to cardiovascular care, reflecting the medical attention she received in her final years.

The news of her death was reported by multiple outlets, including CNA and Free Malaysia Today, confirming the time and location of her passing. Her legacy remains tied to her role as a pioneer for Malay women in medicine and her decades of public service in social welfare and health advocacy.

Related: National Heart Institute · Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali · Kuala Lumpur