Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali have been recognised with three historic records after becoming the first former head of government and spouse in Asia to both reach 100 years old while remaining living centenarians.
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali have been recognised with three historic records after becoming the first former head of government and spouse in Asia to both reach 100 years old while remaining living centenarians.
The couple were conferred the records by Asean Records and ASIA Records at a ceremony at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, marking several milestones, including Dr Mahathir’s 101st birthday, Siti Hasmah’s 100th birthday and their 70th wedding anniversary.
The three records are:
- Oldest Living Former Prime Minister — Dr Mahathir, who turned 101 on July 10, recognised by Asean Records.
- Oldest Living Spouse of a Former Prime Minister — Siti Hasmah, who turned 100 on July 12, recognised by Asean Records.
- First Former Head of Government and Spouse to Both Become Living Centenarians — conferred jointly on the couple by ASIA Records, with a combined age of 201 years as of July 12.
Dr Mahathir served as prime minister for a combined 24 years across two non-consecutive terms, from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.
Siti Hasmah, meanwhile, served as Dr Mahathir’s wife during the same periods, spanning 24 years.
The couple, who married on Aug 5, 1956, have seven children and have been together for seven decades.
Their story began in 1947 when they met as medical students at the King Edward VII College of Medicine.
The records were verified by an adjudication team, which found that no equivalent achievement had been publicly documented across the Asean region and major Asian markets.
The certificates were presented by Asean Records and ASIA Records Advisory Board chairman Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi, accompanied by chief adjudicators Gillian Ooi and Eldrick Koh.
