The Malaysian Insight

THE decision to return two royal awards to the Selangor palace last Thursday was done on her own accord, said Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

The 91-year-old she returned the awards in support of her husband, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who also returned two royal awards he received from the sultan of Selangor in 1978 and 2003. 

“He didn’t force me, I voluntarily returned the royal awards to the palace because I thought if my husband felt that way, as a wife I should sympathise with him and support his wishes,” she said in one-minute video posted on Dr Mahathir’s Twitter account (@chedetofficial).

“I’m a native of Selangor and received these high awards from the state. But due to what has happened recently, I felt I needed to support my husband and return these awards,” said Dr Siti Hasmah.

One of the first women doctors in the country, Dr Siti Hasmah met Dr Mahathir while the two were studying medicine in Universiti Malaya in Singapore in the 1950s. 

The two married in 1956 after they both graduated as doctors and have seven children.

Dr Siti Hasmah was awarded DPMS by the Selangor palace in 1983 and SPMS in 1994.

SPMS, or Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor Darjah Kelas Pertama, carries the title of “Dato’ Seri” and is awarded to only two people at any one time, with a maximum of 40 living recipients.

DPMS, or Dato Paduka Mahkota Selangor, carries the title of “Dato’ Paduka” or “Datin Paduka” for women.

Dr Mahathir, who is now head of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition, received the SPMS on June 22, 1978.

A month before his retirement in October 2003, Dr Mahathir was awarded the Darjah Yang Amat Dihormati Kelas Pertama (DK) at a special recognition ceremony called “Jasamu Dikenang” at Istana Alam Shah in Klang.

The award is only given to a maximum of 25 people at any one time, and was a sign of appreciation from the Selangor government towards Dr Mahathir’s contributions during his tenure as prime minister, Bernama reported then.

Things have soured between Dr Mahathir and the Selangor palace following the former’s alleged insult of the Bugis at a rally in Petaling Jaya.

Today, a three-paragraph statement signed by Selangor Royal Council secretary Hanafisah Jais confirmed that the Selangor sultan has accepted the return of the royal awards. 

“Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah have returned and surrendered the royal awards on December 7.” 

“The cancelation of the royal awards (to them) will be gazetted according to the prescribed procedures,” said the statement. – December 12, 2017.