PETALING JAYA, Sept. 29 -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said he did not expect his wife, Tun Dr Hasmah Ali, to pass away yesterday, recalling that she had appeared to be in good health the night before.

Speaking during a visit by the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who came to pay his last respects, Dr Mahathir shared his surprise at the sudden loss in a video posted online.

"I didn't expect her to die today," he said, adding that Hasmah had seemed "quite well" the previous evening.

The Pahang ruler was accompanied by Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah during the condolence visit. Dr Mahathir also thanked ...