A photograph showing former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad surrounded by members of his multiracial medical team during the burial of his wife, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, has drawn widespread attention in Malaysia.
The image, shared by Public Health Malaysia, shows three healthcare workers from Malay, Chinese and Indian backgrounds standing close to the 101-year-old former leader as he attended the state funeral at the National Mausoleum in Putrajaya. The medical team was there to monitor Mahathir and attend to his needs during the emotional ceremony.
The photograph quickly gained traction online, with Public Health Malaysia highlighting the diversity of the healthcare workers accompanying Mahathir. Malaysia’s former director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah later identified the three as personnel from the National Heart Institute.
Their presence also drew attention because of Mahathir’s age and recent health concerns, with the medical team remaining nearby throughout the funeral proceedings.
Siti Hasmah, a pioneering Malay woman doctor and prominent public health advocate, died at the National Heart Institute on Sept. 28 at the age of 100. She was buried later that day at Pusara Negara in Putrajaya in a state funeral attended by family members, government leaders, diplomats and members of the public.
Mahathir attended the funeral in a wheelchair and remained present as his wife was laid to rest. The couple had been married since 1956 and had seven children together.
Siti Hasmah was remembered not only as Mahathir’s wife but also for her own career in medicine and public health. She was among the pioneering Malay women in the medical profession and spent much of her career working on maternal and child healthcare and community health programmes.
The photograph of Mahathir and his medical team has since become one of the notable images surrounding Siti Hasmah’s final farewell, highlighting the people who remained close to the former prime minister during a deeply personal moment.
