Mahathir ‘lonely’ as family and Malaysia mourn Siti Hasmah - South China Morning Post

SCMP’s Asia deskPublished: 5:13pm, 29 Sep 2026As Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, wife of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, was laid to rest on Monday, one poignant image stood out.Footage of her family members sobbing served as a reminder that before the 100-year-old was “Ibu Negara” (Mother of the Nation), she was first a mother of seven, grandmother to 18 and great-grandmother to four.

Her latest great-grandchild, Eden Zakaria, was born just last month to granddaughter Meera Alyanna Mukhriz, better known as Ally. In a social media post on Monday, Ally paid tribute to her tok (grandparent), saying: “She was strong yet gentle, lenient but firm and always the glue that kept our large family close.”

“Bringing Eden into the world was tough but immensely worth it because he got to meet his wonderful nyang,” the new mother wrote, using the Malay word for great-grandmother.

“Just two weeks ago, I was walking to the kitchen when I saw the front door open. Who else but tok herself, arriving unannounced just to see us and her cicit [great-grandchild], Eden. She would have held him all day if she could. She kept saying, ‘Ally, no pillows in his crib OK?’ She had endless tips for me. I only wish Eden had a bit more time with her, though we were so privileged to have her for 100 years.”