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THE late Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali managed to express her gratitude to the medical team for their care of her and her husband, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, before she passed away last Monday.
Sharing this account, K. Divya Barathy, 30—the head nurse of the team attending to the couple—recalled that Siti Hasmah conveyed these words the day before she breathed her last.
"The day before she passed, Siti Hasmah mentioned that the time had come for her to go. She also thanked us for caring for her and her husband. I replied, 'Please don't say that, Tun.'
"I never imagined that she would pass away the very next morning. Those words still echo in my memory to this day. This loss is incredibly difficult for me to accept," she said, as reported by Berita Harian.
Divya stated that she had been caring for the couple for the past five years as the head nurse, assisted by three other nurses—Tiffany Chen Kah Lim (28), M Suganya (29), and Nur Shahnila Amyra Mohd Saad (31)—as well as physiotherapist Choo Zhang Hui, also known as Kevin Choo (31).
Throughout the time they were by Dr Mahathir's side during the funeral, she said their focus was on ensuring his comfort and providing the necessary support.
"We helped maintain hand hygiene, gently massaged his legs for comfort, and remained close by at all times.
"I personally found it difficult to simply say things like 'It's okay, Tun' or 'You must be strong, Tun,' because I witnessed the depth of the love they shared.
"I did not want to diminish his grief with overly simplistic words. At that moment, we simply wanted him to know that we were by his side," she said.
She added that she appreciated the concern and kind words from the public directed at her team, as well as at Dr Mahathir and his family.
"Caring for the couple was a collective effort by our entire team. I am grateful to have carried out this responsibility alongside them with such care and affection.
"I am deeply grateful to God for allowing my team and me to serve them.
"Beyond the honour of caring for a national legend, I will always cherish the warmth and affection we shared with them," she told BH.
Dr Siti Hasmah, 100, passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 9:20 am last Monday.
She was laid to rest at the National Mausoleum (Pusara Negara) in Precinct 20, Putrajaya, following funeral prayers at the As Syarif Mosque in Taman Sungai Besi Indah, Serdang. – October 2, 2026
