Malaysians call for privacy and respect as Tun Dr Mahathir mourns his late wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, at her graveside
MALAYSIANS have expressed concern over the lack of privacy afforded to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he mourned the loss of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Netizens were particularly upset by the presence of phones and cameras pointed closely at Mahathir as he cried, saying he should have been given space to grieve privately with his family.
The reactions followed Dr Mahathir’s visit to his late wife’s grave at Pusara Negara, Taman Selatan, Precinct 20, Putrajaya, this morning.
Accompanied by family members and medical officers, Mahathir arrived in a wheelchair and scattered flower petals on Dr Siti Hasmah’s grave before breaking down in tears.
The emotional moment was captured and widely shared on social media, prompting criticism from netizens who felt he was not given sufficient space to mourn privately.
A Threads user, @nuhasalleh, wrote: “Please give them, their family and their close acquaintances the space and time they need to grieve the loss of Tun Dr Hasmah. Let them be at her graveside in peace, without being surrounded by crowds.
“Tun Dr Mahathir is already very elderly and should not have to be surrounded by cameras constantly snapping photos of him, let alone deal with questions and greetings from people.
“Sometimes, all they want is a little peace of mind to grieve quietly, without being approached by anyone.”
Another netizen asked: “Can Tun M grieve his wife? Please leave the man alone too.”
Some netizens also suggested that the burial should have been kept private to allow Mahathir and his family to mourn without being surrounded by cameras and crowds.
The reactions have highlighted calls for greater sensitivity and respect for privacy when covering bereaved families, particularly during deeply personal moments of grief.
