Perdana Leadership Foundation wishes Happy Birthday to Tun Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who turns 100 today, 12th June 2026. It is another milestone for a lady who has achieved many milestones – she is one of Malaya’s earliest Malay female doctors, a dedicated maternal health advocate, and the first spouse of a Prime Minister to be accorded the award of Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia (SSM) carrying the title of “Tun”.
Born on 12 July 1926 in Kampung Jawa, Klang, Selangor, Tun Dr Hasmah was among the pioneering generation of Malaysian women who pursued higher education in medicine. She studied at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore, where she met her future husband, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, beginning a lifelong partnership dedicated to the service of Malaysia.
Throughout her medical career, Tun Dr Hasmah championed maternal and child healthcare, becoming the first woman Medical Officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department of Kedah in 1965 and later the first woman State Maternal and Child Health Officer in 1974. Her dedication contributed significantly to improving healthcare outcomes, including a remarkable reduction in infant mortality in Kedah. During her tenure as State Maternal and Child Health Officer, the infant mortality rate in Kedah fell from 75 per 1000 births to 7 per 1000 births.
Beyond medicine, Tun Dr Hasmah has devoted herself to numerous charitable, educational, and community organisations. Her contributions to public health, women’s welfare, youth development, and family well-being have touched countless lives and earned her the admiration and respect of Malaysians across generations.
For many Malaysians, Tun Dr Hasmah is admired not only for her professional achievements, but also for her warmth, wisdom, resilience, and unwavering support for her family and country. Her life reminds us that leadership is grounded in compassion, integrity, and service to others.
As we commemorate this historic centennial, we honour an extraordinary woman whose century of life has enriched the nation and inspired generations of Malaysians.
Happy 100th Birthday, Tun Dr Hasmah. May your remarkable legacy continue to inspire Malaysia for many years to come.
