Hasmah Ali, the wife of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, died today at the age of 100.
She is understood to have died at the National Heart Institute at about 9.25am.
A doctor and advocate for public health
Hasmah was a doctor who used her platform as the prime minister’s wife to advocate maternal health, family planning, literacy, drug abuse prevention and mental health.
Mahathir and Hasmah first met in 1947 while they were students at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. They married in August 1956.
The couple had four children, Marina, Mirzan, Mokhzani and Mukhriz. They also adopted three children, Melinda, Mazhar and Maizura.
A trailblazer for Malaysian women
The sixth of 10 children, Hasmah embodied the aspirations of young Malaysian women from her early schooling in Klang to her medical studies in Singapore.
After graduating in 1955, she became one of the first Malay women doctors, breaking new ground at a time when opportunities for women were limited.
Her involvement in civil society extended across welfare and healthcare organisations.
She served as president of Bakti, the welfare association of wives of ministers and deputy ministers, as well as president of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association.
She was also chairman of the Kedah Family Planning Association and patron of numerous healthcare organisations.
Continued focus on women’s health
In 2019, after undergoing surgery to remove a breast lump that had been detected early, Hasmah urged women to undergo regular health checks.
Her public advocacy reflected her long-standing focus on health, family welfare and social issues.
