Anwar shakes hands with Dr Mahathir, offers condolences over Tun Siti Hasmah's death

Anwar offers condolences to Mahathir at Siti Hasmah’s funeral

SERI KEMBANGAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shook hands with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and offered his condolences over the death of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali at Masjid As-Syarif in Taman Sungai Besi Indah on September 28.

Dr Mahathir, dressed in a white baju Melayu, was seated in a wheelchair as Anwar greeted him.

The prime minister and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, arrived at about 4pm to pay their last respects. They were accompanied by his senior political adviser, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Dr Mahathir had arrived earlier in a separate vehicle.

Former prime ministers Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob were among those at the mosque, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Others present included Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan; Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil; and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Members of the public began gathering as early as 1pm. Dr Siti Hasmah’s body arrived at 2.55pm from the family home at The Mines in Seri Kembangan for the ritual washing and shrouding. Funeral prayers were held after Asar.

Earlier, Anwar announced that Dr Siti Hasmah would receive a state funeral. He instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government and Chief of Defence Forces, General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman, to assist with the arrangements.

Speaking at a conference at ISTAC-IIUM in Kuala Lumpur that morning, Anwar expressed sympathy for Dr Mahathir and his family and paid tribute to Dr Siti Hasmah’s contributions to the country. He also invited those present to recite al-Fatihah.

Following the funeral prayers, her body was taken to Pusara Negara in Precinct 20, Putrajaya, for burial beside Tun Endon Mahmood, the wife of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dr Siti Hasmah died at the National Heart Institute on the morning of September 28, aged 100. Her son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, confirmed her death.