DPM Zahid hails late SM Salim for major contribution to arts and broadcasting

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today hailed the late Tan Sri SM Salim as a person who had made a major contribution to the country through the arts and broadcasting all his life.

SM Salim, throughout his career, gave advice through explicit messages to all of society, he said.

"I knew him from the time that he was an announcer at RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia). I was then a student at Universiti Malaya and worked part time at RTM.

"On behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, I ask his family to exercise patience in their moment of grief and call upon Malaysians to pray for the repose of his soul," he said to reporters after paying his last respects.

SM Salim, whose real name is Sheikh Salim Sheikh Muhammad Al Mahros, died at 5.45pm at his residence at Ukay Perdana here. He was 88.

He began his career as a singer in the 1950s and was a passionate advocate of Malay classical songs. -- BERNAMA