PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in good health but is feeling lonely following the death of his wife and lifelong companion of nearly 70 years, said their daughter Datuk Marina Mahathir.
She said Dr Mahathir was still grieving the loss of Tun Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali but remained in good health.
READ MORE: Mahathir-Siti Hasmah lifelong bond: From first ‘I love you’ to 70 years together
READ MORE: Recovery going well: Tun Mahathir granted home leave
“Of course, my father is sad. She was his partner for 70 years. He is just feeling lonely, so we are all trying to spend as much time with him as possible, day and night,” she said.
Marina said this when met after visiting Dr Hasmah’s grave at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Precinct 20 today.
She arrived at about 10.40am and placed a bouquet at her mother’s grave.
Marina said family members, including her siblings and their children, were taking turns to accompany Dr Mahathir so that he would not be left alone.
“He feels very lonely now. How could he not be sad? She was his partner for 70 years,” she said.
She said the loss was also deeply felt by the family, who had grown accustomed to having Siti Hasmah at home.
“We all miss her. We were used to seeing our mother at home, but now it is difficult to believe that she is gone,” she said.
Marina also thanked members of the public who came to pay their last respects to Siti Hasmah at the mosque and grave yesterday.
She said she had received hundreds of messages through WhatsApp but was unable to respond to all of them at present.
“My whole family and I are deeply touched by all the messages and tributes given to our mother,” she said.
Marina said the tributes were particularly meaningful as many people regarded Siti Hasmah as their own mother.
“Some of them I know and some I do not, but they paid their respects to my mother because they regarded her as their own mother too,” she said.
Asked whether Dr Mahathir was still limiting visitors, Marina said he could receive visitors, but the number would have to be controlled.
“He can receive visitors, but we need to limit the number. We cannot have too many people at one time,” she said.
