Happy 92nd birthday, Siti Hasmah!
Flood of well wishes pour in for PM’s wife
PETALING JAYA: Two days after celebrating Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 93rd birthday, his kids and other Malaysians have continued the joyous mood by sending warm wishes to his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, who turns 92.
On Facebook, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir wished her mother, Dr Siti Hasmah, a “Happy 92nd Birthday”.
“Happy 92nd birthday to my Mummy, the strong steady (and often funny) hand behind us all but most especially Dad.
“What would any of us do without your wisdom, support and love?” she said yesterday.
The message on her Facebook post was accompanied by a photo of Dr Siti Hasmah dressed in pink which was matched with a pearl necklace and earrings.
Marina also ended her Facebook post with several hashtags calling Dr Siti Hasmah #mymummysthebest, #arealtrouper and #therealsuperpower.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir also wished his mother Dr Siti Hasmah on her birthday.
“Happy 92nd Birthday mum, Tun Siti Hasmah, may you have long life, good fortune, and have good health to accompany Tun Dr Mahathir,” he said.
Former Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun said he found her to be “accommodating, motherly, and soft-spoken”.
“An inspiring lady that all of Malaysia should be proud of. Happy Birthday Tun Siti Hasmah!” he said.
Meanwhile, celebrities Neelofa, whose real name is Noor Nelofa Mohd Noor and Adibah Noor Mohd Omar also sent their birthday greetings to Dr Siti Hasmah on Twitter.
Neelofa tweeted: “Happy Birthday to our First Lady, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah!
“May you be blessed with good health, love and happiness. They say behind every great man, there’s a great woman, and you are truly the epitome of that saying!
“Thank you for all that you do! Happy Birthday!”.
Adibah Noor tweeted: “Happy Birthday YABhg Tun Dr Siti Hasmah”.
Malaysians also sent their best wishes to Dr Siti Hasmah.
Martha Cylindar thanked her for the sacrifices that she has made. “God bless you and grant you good health and strength,” she said.
Sujata Ram said Dr Siti Hasmah was a great living example as she was a “genuine supporter and pillar of the nation”.
“You never tire yourself to serve our nation along with Tun. We salute you for all your sacrifices,” she said.
Noel Sim said Dr Siti Hasmah has set a benchmark for what a good wife should be.
“You deserve all the happiness,” he said.
Dr Siti Hasmah is known not just as the wife of Dr Mahathir but also as an accomplished violinist and pianist.
She was once caught on video playing a medley of songs on the piano as Dr Mahathir hummed and sang along at a hotel in Jakarta before heading to Istana Bogor to meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
According to the biography profile of Dr Siti Hasmah by the Prime Minister’s Office website, she was one of the first Malay women to enrol for a medical course at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore after the war.
In 1955, she graduated as a medical doctor and served in the government health service.
Dr Siti Hasmah is also known as the first woman to be appointed as the Medical Officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department, and in 1974 she was the first woman to be appointed as the State Maternal and Child Health Officer.