Veteran TV personality Pak Cik Jamal dies

Veteran television personality Jamal Muhamad, who was synonymous with the name Pak Cik Jamal, died at Putrajaya Hospital here, today.

Jamal, 75, left behind wife Zainab Serat, 67, and three children.

His daughter, Sheila said her father died at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital at 11am, after being admitted on Tuesday for breathing difficulties.

Pak Jamal

Veteran television personality Jamal Muhamad or better known as Pak Jamal with his wife Salamiah Serat on Februari 23. - Bernama pic

Pak Cik Jamal had been admitted several times to the hospital, prior to this, for complications of the heart and lungs and spinal problems. Jamal was a popular television personality with the character of a Speaker through the Mini Parliament programme produced by Radio Television Malaysia in the 1980s.

Shiela said her father's remains would be taken to the Jameatussolehah Mosque, Pekan Dengkil for funeral rites.

Jamal also suffered breathing problems claimed to be due to 'ankylosing spondylitis' which he suffered about 14 years ago resulting in his spinal column being bent and affected his lungs.

In early January, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had visited Jamal, also known as 'Jamal Kerdil', in his house at Kampung Selangor Dredging, when he was ill.

During the visit, Ahmad Shabery had said that Jamal's contribution in the Malaysian broadcasting field was most valuable to the country because the programme, 'Mini Parlimen' had strongly influenced the thinking of children then.

Another programme which helped Jamal to become an icon among children was 'Taman Kanak-kanak' which first broadcasted in 1961 and he also produced the programmes 'Pesta Pop' and 'Pentas Aneka'.