Tun Dr Mahathir, Siti Hasmah not moving to Seri Perdana - Marina Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali are not moving to 'Seri Perdana', the official residence of Malaysia's prime minister in Putrajaya, according to the couple's daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.

They would instead continue living at their own home, she said in a Facebook posting today.

"It's comfortable but really does not have space for any more stuff," Marina said as she conveyed a request from Dr Siti Hasmah for well-wishers to stop sending gifts to accompany congratulatory messages over the May 9 election victory of Pakatan Harapan, of which Dr Mahathir is chairman.

Marina noted that ever since the election win two weeks ago, her mother had received so many well wishes from so many people, congratulating both her parents.

"She's very grateful and appreciative of your kind thoughts, prayers and messages. However, accompanying many of these congratulations are flowers, food and other gifts," she said.

Elaborating, Marina said: "She (Dr Siti Hasmah) has asked me to request that there be no more gifts sent because, one, the rule in the Pakatan Harapan government is that no politician is allowed to receive any gifts other than flowers and food.

"And two, as modest as the gifts might be, they do take a lot of space. So she seeks your understanding to please not send anything to her, even though Hari Raya is coming," she added.

She said Dr Siti Hasmah requested that people make donations to any charity of their choice.

"That would please her very much," Marina added.

Dr Mahathir, 92, returned to helm the government after he was sworn in as Malaysia's seventh prime minister following Pakatan Harapan's victory in the polls, making him the oldest prime minister in the world. He was also Malaysia's fourth prime minister, from 1981 to 2003.

-- BERNAMA