Seven Decades Together, Tun M Sheds Tears As Tun Siti Hasmah Laid To Rest

Oleh Mohd Fharkhan Abdul Ghapar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- After seven decades together, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today faced one of his most difficult moments as he accompanied his late wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, to her final resting place.

Tun Dr Mahathir, who used a wheelchair and wore an oxygen tube, remained present throughout the funeral rites as family members gathered to pay their last respects.

A sombre atmosphere marked the proceedings, from the family residence and the paying of last respects and funeral prayers at As-Syarif Mosque, Taman Sungai Besi Indah, to the Pusara Negara (National Cemetery), Precinct 20, Putrajaya.

Looking despondent, the former Prime Minister was seen gazing blankly for a moment at his wife's remains while paying his last respects at the mosque before joining the funeral prayers, with thousands of congregants filling the mosque and spilling into the surrounding area. 

Upon arriving at Pusara Negara, Tun Dr Mahathir watched as his wife's remains were taken to the burial plot before she was laid to rest.

From his wheelchair, he observed the burial in a solemn atmosphere as family members stood close by.

Tun Dr Mahathir was seen shedding tears beside his wife's grave during the final moments, taking a last look at the woman who had shared his life for so many years.

To Malaysians, Tun Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah were not merely a former Prime Minister and his wife. Their warmth and affection for each other, often displayed in public, endeared them to many.

At official events and during more casual appearances, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah was rarely far from her husband's side, serving as his companion and a pillar of support throughout his life and political career.

The couple's easy-going nature also frequently drew attention through their jokes, teasing and warm interactions, offering a glimpse into the personal side of two people who spent most of their lives together.

Tun Dr Mahathir and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah tied the knot on Aug 5, 1956 and last August marked their 70th wedding anniversary.

Over the years, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah was not only a wife and mother to their seven children, but also remained by Tun Dr Mahathir's side through various phases of life and his long political career.

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) this morning at the age of 100.

-- BERNAMA