Mukhriz Mahathir has appealed to the public and media to give his father, former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, time and privacy to grieve following the death of his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Mukhriz said his 101-year-old father is still coming to terms with the loss of his wife of 70 years, who died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) on Sept. 28 at the age of 100.
Speaking after a tahlil and Yasin recitation ceremony held in memory of Siti Hasmah at the Saidina Umar Al-Khattab Mosque in Bukit Damansara, Mukhriz said the loss remained deeply difficult for his father.
He said Mahathir had not even had a full week to process the death of the woman who had been his companion for seven decades.
Mukhriz also explained that returning to the family home could be particularly difficult because almost every part of the house is associated with memories of Siti Hasmah.
“I think that if he stays at home, everything he sees will remind him of my late mother,” Mukhriz said, adding that it may therefore be better for Mahathir to remain at IJN temporarily until he has recovered.
Mahathir was admitted to IJN on Sept. 29, one day after his wife’s death, for observation. His family said he needed time to recover following the loss.
Mukhriz said Mahathir had also visited Siti Hasmah’s grave, describing the visit as a positive development.
The former prime minister was photographed at the National Mausoleum in Putrajaya on Oct. 1, where he scattered rose petals at his wife’s grave accompanied by family members. Siti Hasmah was buried there following a state funeral on Sept. 28.
Mukhriz urged members of the public to understand the family’s situation and avoid placing additional pressure on his father by repeatedly asking about his emotional state.
He appealed for people to give Mahathir the space and time needed to cope with the death privately rather than expecting him to discuss his grief publicly.
Siti Hasmah’s death marked the end of a 70-year marriage. She and Mahathir met while studying medicine and married in 1956. They went on to have seven children, including Mukhriz.
Siti Hasmah was also known for her own career in medicine and public health. After graduating from the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore in 1955, she worked with Malaysia’s Health Ministry, including in maternal and child healthcare.
Her death prompted tributes from Malaysian leaders and the public. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that she would receive a state funeral and described her as a figure who had remained close to the hearts of Malaysians.
Mahathir had previously spoken publicly about the shock of losing his wife, saying he had not expected her death because she had appeared to be doing relatively well the evening before.
As the Mahathir family continues to mourn, Mukhriz’s request has focused on allowing his father time away from public scrutiny while he adjusts to life without the wife who had been beside him for seven decades.
