Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad's wife Hasmah dies

Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has died. Mahathir's office confirmed the matter on Monday.

Hasmah was 100 years old. The country's state news agency Bernama reported that she died at Malaysia's National Heart Institute.

The news agency reported the matter, citing the couple's son, Mokhzani Mahathir. No further information on Hasmah's death was immediately available.

Mahathir was Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister. He played an important role in transforming Malaysia into a modern state. The 101-year-old Mahathir served as Malaysia's prime minister for more than two decades in total.

Mahathir was prime minister for the first time from 1981 to 2003. During this period, he led Malaysia's rapid industrialisation. At that time, the country became one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia.

Returning from retirement, Mahathir became prime minister again in 2018. With this, he became the oldest prime minister in Malaysia's history.

In 2020, his coalition collapsed amid political conflict. He had to leave the post of prime minister less than two years after assuming office.

Mahathir and Hasmah met while studying medicine in Singapore in the late 1940s. In August last year, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They have seven children. Among them are businessman Mokhzani Mahathir, social activist Marina Mahathir and politician Mukhriz Mahathir.

Hasmah was also popular in Malaysia herself. She was known for her simple personality and sense of humour. Her nature was quite different from her husband Mahathir's blunt and harsh manner of speaking. As a politician's wife, Hasmah worked on various social issues, including public health and family planning.

In 2018, Mahathir told CNN that Hasmah played an important role behind his success.