Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr.
Siti Hasmah
SSM SSDK DUPN SPDK DUNM DA SMK KMN PCK
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| سيتي حسمه محمد علي | |
Siti Hasmah in 2019
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| Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
| In role 10 May 2018 – 24 February 2020 Spouse of the Interim: 24 February - 1 March 2020 |
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| Monarch | Muhammad V Abdullah |
| Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Preceded by | Rosmah Mansor |
| Succeeded by | Noorainee Abdul Rahman |
| In role 16 July 1981 – 31 October 2003 |
|
| Monarch | Ahmad Shah Iskandar Azlan Shah Jaafar Salahuddin Sirajuddin |
| Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Preceded by | Suhailah Noah |
| Succeeded by | Endon Mahmood |
| Spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
| In role 5 March 1976 – 16 July 1981 |
|
| Monarch | Yahya Petra Ahmad Shah |
| Prime Minister | Hussein Onn |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Mahathir Mohamad |
| Preceded by | Suhailah Noah |
| Succeeded by | Ines Maria Reyna |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Siti Hasmah binti Mohamad Ali
12 July 1926 Klang, Selangor, Federated Malay States, British Malaya |
| Citizenship | Malaysia |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 7 (including Marina, Mokhzani and Mukhriz) |
| Relatives | Ismail Mohd Ali (brother) Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali (brother) Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali (brother) |
| Alma mater | King Edward VII College of Medicine (MBBS) |
| Occupation | Physician, Civil Servant |
Hasmah binti Mohamad Ali (born 12 July 1926), often called Siti Hasmah, is a Malaysian doctor known for her public service. She was the wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia for many years because she is married to Mahathir Mohamad. She held this role from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. In Malaysia, many people respectfully call her Ibu Negara, which means "Mother of the Nation."
Born in Klang, Selangor, Siti Hasmah worked as a doctor in Kedah. She was passionate about improving health in villages. She organized projects to teach people about cleanliness, healthy living, and getting shots to prevent sickness in children. She was also the chancellor of Multimedia University.
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Early Life and Schooling
Siti Hasmah was born on July 12, 1926, in Klang, Selangor. Her family is of Minangkabau descent. Her father was a government worker, and her mother was a homemaker. She was the sixth of ten children.
Her family was very accomplished. Her older brother, Ismail Mohamed Ali, was the governor of Malaysia's central bank. Another brother, Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali, became the head of the country's military. Her sister, Saleha Mohd Ali, was an important doctor and helped start a major political party.
Siti Hasmah went to SMK St. Mary. She later studied to become a doctor at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. She was one of the first Malay women to study medicine there. In 1955, she graduated and started working for the government's health service.
A Career in Medicine
Siti Hasmah was a pioneer in Malaysia's Ministry of Health. In 1965, she became the first woman to be a medical officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department. This department focuses on the health of mothers and their babies.
In 1974, she was the first woman to be appointed as the State Maternal and Child Health Officer in Kedah. She worked hard to lower the number of babies who died, and she was very successful. She also wrote articles about family health and taught at the University of Malaya.
Wife of the Prime Minister
As the wife of the Prime Minister, Siti Hasmah used her position to help others. She focused on women's health, family planning, and teaching adults to read.
First Term (1981-2003)
During her husband's first time as Prime Minister, Siti Hasmah took on many important roles. She was the president of the Malaysian Girl Guides Association and a patron for groups that supported children's health and sports like badminton.
She traveled the world to speak at conferences about women's issues. She met with many world leaders and their spouses, including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Nancy Reagan, the wife of U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
In 1995, she led a group from Malaysia to a United Nations conference on women in Beijing, China. There, she gave a speech about creating a more caring and equal world.
Second Term (2018-2020)
When her husband became Prime Minister again in 2018, Siti Hasmah returned to her public role. She continued to support education and reading. She opened Malaysia's first 24-hour bookstore and signed a plaque that said she was a "book warrior."
A video of her politely asking the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, if she could hold his hand became very popular online. People liked how friendly and warm she was.
Helping the Community
Siti Hasmah has always been dedicated to helping society. She worked on many important causes throughout her life.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
As president of a charity club called BAKTI, Siti Hasmah worked to teach young people about making healthy choices. In 1985, she was invited by the First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan, to a conference in Washington, D.C.. The conference was about helping young people live healthy lives.
Supporting Rural Women
Siti Hasmah was a strong voice for women living in rural areas. In 1992, she was invited by Queen Fabiola of Belgium to a summit in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was about helping rural women improve their lives. She was chosen to represent the Asia-Pacific region.
Mental Health Awareness
As a doctor, Siti Hasmah also cared about mental health. She was invited by former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter to join a committee for the World Federation of Mental Health.
Personal Life and Family
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Siti Hasmah married Mahathir Mohamad in August 1956. They met in 1947 while they were both medical students in Singapore. They have seven children: Marina, Mirzan, Melinda, Mokhzani, Mukhriz, Maizura, and Mazhar.
In her book, My Name is Hasmah, she called Mahathir her "hero." She said he helped her a lot with her studies, especially with difficult subjects like Physics and Chemistry.
Siti Hasmah is known for being a kind person who loves cats and music. She started learning the violin when she was 16. She stopped for many years but began playing again when she was over 80 years old. She is also a lifelong learner. In her 70s, she learned to speak French.
She often traveled with her husband on official trips. They have visited almost every country in the world. She once said that Japan is their favorite place to go on holiday.
In 2019, she had surgery for breast cancer. After she recovered, she spoke at an event to encourage other women to get checked early. She shared her story to help others.
Awards and Recognitions
Siti Hasmah has received many awards for her work in public health and her service to the nation.
See also
- Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Images for kids
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Siti Hasmah, aged 98, being assisted by two individuals while attending the PLF Book Launch and Special Dialogue with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on 19 May 2025
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