Film director Yasmin Ahmad dies



KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning film director Yasmin Ahmad (pic) has died from massive bleeding in the brain at the Damansara Specialist Hospital.

She died at 11.25pm yesterday. She had undergone surgery following her collapse at the TV3 headquarters Seri Pentas on Thursday. The 51-year-old movie maker was famed for her advertisements and films capturing the essence of racial harmony in Malaysia.

Relatives, loved ones and a large group of luminaries from the local movie and television scene gathered at the hospital the moment they heard about her death. Among the first to arrive were veteran actress Fatimah Abu Bakar – a close friend of Yasmin – and Media Prima International CEO Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan.

Although distraught, those present paid tribute to the award-winning director.

“We would come cross a few great people in our time on earth. Yasmin was one of them.

“She wasn’t an easy person to live or work with, but that was only because she was so talented.

“She had a big heart and vision that we usually don’t understand. That was why people misunderstood her. But she never intended any malice,” said Fatimah. She added Yasmin’s films had always been about love and forgiveness because that was the way her parents brought her up.

Fatimah’s daughter, Sharifah Amani, who acted in Yasmin’s films, was too distraught as she stood by at her mother’s side. She refused to talk to the press. Fatimah and Farid acted as the spokespersons for Yasmin’s family to announce her death and details of her funeral.

TV host Aznil Nawawi, said he had always admired Yasmin’s work although he never had a chance to work with her.

“She possessed the knack on how to capture the essence of Malaysia through her movies and commercials.

“I last saw her when she was promoting her movie Talentime at the Radio Era office,” he added.

Suria FM chief executive officer Engku Imran Engku Zainal Abidin described Yasmin’s death as a great loss – not only to the entertainment and movie industry, but to the nation as a whole.

“Her movies are watched by all races because they can all relate to the messages conveyed.

“We have lost a great, intelligent and creative director,” he added.

Yasmin will be buried after Zohor prayers today, although at press time the location of the burial has yet to be determined. Fatimah said Yasmin’s body would be taken to the SS19 Mosque in Subang Jaya for prayers.

Yasmin Ahmad Dies



KUALA LUMPUR - CRITICALLY acclaimed writer-director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, died last night, two days after she suffered a stroke.

On Thursday, while giving a presentation at TV3's studio in Sri Pentas in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian film-maker collapsed and went into a coma. Her condition deteriorated yesterday and she died at Damansara Specialist Hospital at 11.25pm.

Her brother Muzaffar Shah Ahmad, 38, was reported by New Straits Times as saying that she had brain surgery on Friday to remove a blood clot. Doctors had also removed fluid in her skull to reduce pressure caused by her swollen brain.

Media Prima Group chief executive officer Ahmad Farid Ridzuan confirmed her death last night.

Well known for her advertisements and films that captured the essence of racial harmony in Malaysia, Ms Yasmin started her career as a copywriter and later rose to prominence in the advertising industry.

She had won awards for dramas such as Sepet (2004) and Gubra (2006).

In Singapore, Ms Yasmin is best known for the pro-family commercials she did for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

The advertisements included one that depicted a girl growing up with a single father, and another that featured a widow reminiscing about her late husband at his funeral.

Ms Yasmin was in pre-production on a new film called Go, Thaddeus! when she died. The movie, which was to be her first to be shot in Singapore, was to be based on the story of 17-year-old Singaporean triathlete Thaddeus Cheong, who died after finishing a SEA Games selection race in 2007.

Ms Yasmin was also due to start shooting for a project in Japan called Forget Me Not with a Japanese producer at the end of the year. -- THE STAR/ANN

Yasmin Ahmad laid to rest at 12.40pm (update)



PETALING JAYA: Award-winning director Yasmin Ahmad, who passed away last night after a stroke, is finally laid to rest at 12.40pm at the Tanah Perkuburan Islam in SS20.

Among the pallbearers were Media Prima International CEO Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan. Some 100 people have turned at the funeral to pay their last respects.

Earlier, the family held solat jenazah at Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq in SS19, after which, the public was allowed to pay their last respects to Yasmin. The prayers were led by Imam Ustaz Ahmad Salim. Yassin prayers were also recited for Yasmin at the mosque. The hearse has left the house for the mosque at 9.30am.

Among those present at the mosque were actress Sharifah Amani, Farid, AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, singer Jacyln Victor, fellow film director and producer Suhaimi Baba, Talentime actor Hon Kahoe and singer cum songwriter Peter Teo. Former Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon was also present.

Yasmin, 51, famous for movies like Sepet, Gubra and recently, Talentime.

The director died at 11.45pm on Saturday night from massive bleeding in the brain at the Damansara Specialist Hospital.