PUTRAJAYA, Sept 28 — The late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali's gentle and humble manner made people listen to her every word of advice, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.
Her calm demeanour also made her a woman leader who would be difficult to replace.
“She did not need to raise her voice, but whenever she spoke, everyone would listen. She was very humble, always calm, and always present alongside Tun Dr Mahathir,” she told the media at Pusara Negara in Precinct 20 today.
Yeoh added said that Dr Siti's loyalty in accompanying and supporting her husband was evident when Tun Dr Mahathir returned as Prime Minister for a second time in 2018 at the age of 92.
She was saddened by Dr Siti's passing and touched by video recordings and photographs showing Dr Mahathir following the loss of his wife, who had been his lifelong companion.
“He will certainly miss Tun Dr Siti Hasmah very much because they had lived their lives together for such a long time,” Yeoh said.
The minister noted that Dr Siti was also an example to women through her emphasis on education and her career as a doctor, as she believed education gave women greater opportunities to serve and contribute to society.
Sharing a personal memory, she said Dr Siti would hold her hand whenever they met, making her feel comfortable in her presence.
“She was very gentle in her speech and very kind. She would always ask, ‘How are you?’, but the difference was that she would really listen to my answer.
“Usually, people ask ‘How are you?’ but are not really interested in hearing the answer. Tun Dr Siti Hasmah was very interested in listening to it,” Yeoh said.
She also extended her condolences to Tun Dr Mahathir and the entire family on the passing of Dr Siti Hasmah, who died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur at 9.20am today at the age of 100.
Dr Siti will be laid to rest at Pusara Negara, Precinct 20. The government has accorded her a state funeral.
