The Perdana Leadership Foundation, and all of Malaysia, mourns a mother of the nation.
Tun Dr Hasmah left us on Monday, 28th September, at the age of 100. She was the beloved wife of our Honorary President, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, and she was a gentle, steady presence in the life of this Foundation. Some of our fondest memories are of her seated at the grand piano in our foyer, playing classic tunes and inviting staff to gather and sing along.
Tun Hasmah was a doctor, a pioneer, and a quiet force for good whose kindness reached far beyond public view.
Born in Kampung Jawa, Klang, on 12th July 1926, she chose medicine at a time when few Malay women could. She was among the first to study at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. It was there that she met a fellow student named Mahathir, and their partnership of more than seven decades began. They married in 1956 and built a life devoted to each other and to Malaysia.
Her heart was always with mothers and children. As Kedah’s first woman Medical Officer in Maternal and Child Health, and later its first woman State Maternal and Child Health Officer, she helped bring infant mortality down from 75 to just 7 per 1,000 births. Behind those numbers are thousands of children who lived to grow up, and families who were spared unimaginable grief.
She stood beside Tun Dr Mahathir through both his terms as Malaysia’s fourth and seventh Prime Minister. She never lost sight of the causes she held dear: health, women, children, families, and communities in need. She was also passionate about badminton, and as patron of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), she personally attended and cheered on the national squad at international arenas.
In 2003, she became the first wife of a Malaysian Prime Minister to be honoured with the SSM, carrying the title “Tun.” To those who knew her, though, she was simply Dr Hasmah: warm, wise, witty, and endlessly caring.
Hers was a century lived with quiet strength, purpose, and love. We will always remember her kindness and we will all miss her deeply.
We pray that Allah SWT forgives her, showers her with His mercy, and grants her a place in Jannah among the righteous. Al-Fatihah.
Read more about her remarkable life: bit.ly/TunHasmahBio
In remembrance of Tun Dr Hasmah, our specially curated exhibits feature photographs and highlights from her remarkable life and her contributions to the nation. Visitors to the Perdana Leadership Foundation are also welcome to visit Tun Dr Hasmah’s Corner in the Perdana Library, and leave a written condolence message or remembrance in her honour.
