Tun Dr Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has died at the age of 100, marking the end of a life that combined medical service, public health advocacy and decades in Malaysia’s public life.
Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur at about 9.20am on Sept. 28, according to Malaysian reports. Her death was confirmed by her son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir.
Born on July 12, 1926, Hasmah was among the early Malay women to enter the medical profession. She studied at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, graduated in 1955 and later served as a medical officer with Malaysia’s Health Ministry, with work that included public health, maternal and child healthcare.
She married Mahathir on Aug. 5, 1956, and the couple had seven children. They marked their 70th wedding anniversary in August this year.
Hasmah became widely known nationally during Mahathir’s two periods as prime minister, serving as his wife from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. During those years, she used her public position to promote maternal healthcare, family planning, literacy and efforts against drug abuse.
Her public service extended beyond her role as a prime minister’s spouse. She led Malaysia’s delegation to the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and served as the inaugural chancellor of Multimedia University from 1997 to 2012.
She also remained active in public and charitable work later in life. Her contributions included involvement with health and civic organisations, while her later years saw her continue musical and cultural interests, including playing the violin and taking up the traditional Chinese erhu.
Hasmah celebrated her 100th birthday on July 12. The milestone was followed by recognition from ASEAN Records as the oldest living spouse of a former prime minister.
News of her death prompted condolences from Malaysia’s royal and political leadership. King Sultan Ibrahim and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah expressed sympathy to the family and prayed for strength and patience for those mourning her loss.
Her remains were later transported from the National Heart Institute to the family residence in The Mines, Seri Kembangan, with several of her children present.
Hasmah leaves behind a legacy that extended beyond her association with one of Malaysia’s longest-serving prime ministers. Her career as a physician, public-health advocate and civic figure made her a prominent figure in Malaysia in her own right.
Her death also closes a remarkable personal chapter: a 70-year marriage to Mahathir that spanned Malaysia’s transformation through decades of political and social change.
