Malaysia Accords State Funeral for Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered a state funeral for Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a public health pioneer and wife of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who died at 100.
Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, a physician and public health advocate, died at the age of 100 on September 28, 2026, at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, announced that she would be accorded a funeral with full state honours in recognition of her status as a revered national figure.
Funeral proceedings included final rites at Masjid As-Syarif in Seri Kembangan at 1:30 p.m., followed by burial at the Heroes’ Mausoleum in Putrajaya at 4:30 p.m. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instructed the Government's chief secretary and the Armed Forces commander to ensure honors befitting a national statesman.
As one of the first Malaysian women in the medical profession, Siti Hasmah worked for the Malaysian Health Ministry and served as the spouse of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during his tenures from 1981 to 2003 and again in 2018. She was recognized for her contributions to maternal health, family planning, mental health, and her role as patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia.
International leaders issued condolences following her death. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called her a "pioneer in her field," while Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari praised her distinguished service in public health. She is survived by her husband and seven children.
