KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — 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.
Dr Mahathir, who used a motorised 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 Masjid As-Syarif in Taman Sungai Besi Indah, Seri Kembangan, to Pusara Negara in Precinct 20, Putrajaya.
Looking despondent, the ex-premier 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, Dr Mahathir watched as his wife's remains were taken to the burial plot before she was laid to rest.
From his motorised wheelchair, he observed the burial in a solemn atmosphere as family members stood close by.
The cenetarian, who turned 101 on July 10, 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, Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti 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, Dr Siti 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.
Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti tied the knot on August 5, 1956, and marked their 70th wedding anniversary last month.
Over the years, she 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.
Dr Siti passed away at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur this morning at the age of 100.
