INTERVIEW Today, as he celebrates his ninetieth birthday, Dr Mahathir Mohamad might not receive any special gifts other than a prayer from the light of his life for 59 years.

 

Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, 88, his college mate who is now the mother of his seven children including three adopted ones, does not plan on any surprise gift for her husband.

 

"I never thought of buying him anything because he has everything. Last time, I just bought him a velvet smoking jacket. After a shower or breakfast, (wear) it like a yukata.

 

"And he is comfortable with it but it's difficult to find it here. I have to go to Japan to find it. So he already he has got all that he wants.

 

"He's got watches, pens, so I said nothing else," Siti Hasmah said with a laugh in an interview with Malaysiakini at Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana in Putrajaya on Monday.

 

So what exactly will Siti Hasmah be giving Mahathir for his birthday?

 

A simple dinner and her fervent prayer that her husband's fight for 29 years in government and 22 years as the prime minister, will finally see a resolution.

 

But as his loyal companion, she of course prays for Mahathir's good health, both physically and mentally.

 

This especially since he is still actively shaping Malaysian politics, even as he nears a century in age.

 

"I also pray so that he can at least see his fight end. In what way, I don't know.

 

"If there are signs that his fight will end in whatever way, or Vision 2020 is coming to show him that whatever he had in mind before will be fulfilled, no matter whether small (successes) or not, I think he will be very happy," Siti Hasmah said.

 

Sharing a life, sharing a zodiac

 

In 1996, towards the last years of Mahathir as prime minister, he once read out a famous poem called ' Perjuangan Yang Belum Selesai' (The fight that is not yet over).

 

One of the messages the poem expressed was the sorrow felt for his nation that was colonised, degraded, humiliated and forgotten.

 

Siti Hasmah passes by a display of that poem, which is in a huge frame on the ground floor of the foundation's building and she sees it every time she follows her husband into his office in their golden years.

 

While Mahathir celebrates his ninetieth birthday today, Siti Hasmah will celebrate her birthday in two days' time.

 

They have not only shared their lives, but they also share the same Cancer zodiac sign.

 

But at the age of 90, even after he has retired as the longest-serving prime minister in Malaysian history, Mahathir is still vigorously fighting for what he believes in.

 

After playing a major role in getting rid of his handpicked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Mahathir is now doubling his efforts against Najib Abdul Razak via the debt-laden 1MDB issue.

 

A mere 10 years away from reaching his hundredth year, Mahathir continues to write on his blog, speak to the media, give speeches here and there and at the same time, still has time to parry criticism after criticism from Najib's supporters.

 

In fact, on late night television every night, there have been news reports portraying the Umno statesperson as a traitor.

 

There may be many, however, who do not know how Siti Hasmah, famed for her gentle and motherly nature, truly feels about these matters.

 

Refuses to meddle in politics

 

Stressing that she will always support her beloved husband, Siti Hasmah admitted that at such times, she always feels bad for Mahathir, whom she jokingly nicknamed 'the boy from the paddy field state' (Kedah).

 

"Not tired, but feel bad," she said.

 

Asked why only Mahathir has stepped forward to carry this burden when no one else has, Siti Hasmah gave a simple answer.

 

"That's easy to answer. No one else wants to speak up," she said, pausing for a bit before adding, "Eh, we are going to politics? No, no, no...," she gently chastises.

 

Siti Hasmah is known for being a wife who does not meddle in her husband's politics ever since 'Doctor Umno' entered the Malaysian political scene all those years ago.

 

And from the start, she told Malaysiakini that she would not talk about politics in this exclusive interview with her.

 

Asked what gifts she would want from Mahathir, she said she didn't really want anything.

 

She revealed that Mahathir tended to prefer meaningful gifts - even if they were cheap - over more expensive gifts.

 

"The best is when he buys something like a frame with a picture of us already inside [..that will be very nice," said Siti Hasmah, who was warm and full of smiles in keeping with her true nature throughout the interview.

Part 1: Siti Hasmah: No need to compete with hubby

Interview conducted by Jimadie Shah Othman, Norman Goh and Yap Jia Hee.

 

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