'My name is just Hasmah, not Siti Hasmah'

Dr Hasmah

KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has let the nation in on a "little secret" behind her name.

While Malaysians know her as Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the nonagenarian revealed that her real name does not have "Siti" – it is simply "Hasmah".

She explained that the "Siti" moniker was added after she and Dr Mahathir moved from Alor Setar to Kuala Lumpur, reported Astro Awani.

"I need to correct... I was not born as "Siti Hasmah". I was only born (with the name) Hasmah," she said in an interview on the "Coffee with Ryan" podcast.

Dr Hasmah said the "Siti" came about because it was a trend back in 1970, when she was appointed as a medical officer in the maternal and child health department.

"There is Siti Nurhaliza (now), there was this Siti, there was that Siti. So they added the 'Siti' before my name. But I'm just Dr Hasmah," added the 98-year-old.

Dr Hasmah requested for the "Siti" prefix not to be added to her name any more.

During the podcast, which also featured Dr Mahathir, the couple discussed health aspects and the secrets of ensuring marital bliss.

She said that to make a marriage work, one must find a good partner and trust each other.

Dr Mahathir and Dr Hasmah were married on Aug 5, 1956.