Singer M. Rizal passes away during final family video call

Singer M. Rizal, 71, passed away at their residence in Taman Damai Jaya in Skudai yesterday, surrounded by his wife Salmah Musa and children.

JOHOR BAHRU - The youngest son of singer M. Rizal, famous for the hit song Abang Beca, is deeply grateful for following his intuition to initiate a family video call just before the veteran artist's final moments.

Roy Faisal, 41, said his father Mohamad Razali Hasim, aged 71, passed away at their residence in Taman Damai Jaya in Skudai here yesterday, surrounded by his wife Salmah Musa, and children.

He died due to a stomach ulcer and was laid to rest at the Taman Impian Emas Muslim cemetery in Skudai at 10am today.

"My late father fell ill due to a stomach ulcer last year. He fell sick often and also had gout which made walking difficult, so he was not active.

"The ulcer pain went away for three or four months but came back. Then three days ago my father lost his appetite. His last meal was Nestum at about 4 pm yesterday.

"I suddenly felt the urge to make a video call with the whole family... everyone got to see my father. He was awake, and then suddenly he fell silent. Alhamdulillah everyone was there on the call,” Roy told reporters at the family home in Skudai today.

Meanwhile, M. Rizal’s widow Salmah, 74, said she was sad but also relieved by her husband’s passing.

"My husband was a quiet and strong person. But he hadn’t been singing for a long time ... maybe more than 20 years. He accepted some invitations to sing at family celebrations but turned down some,” she said.

M. Rizal was from Teluk Intan, Perak. He was born on July 19, 1953, and was the Bintang RTM 1978 champion.

A few of his popular songs were Hatiku Menangis Kernamu and Usah Kau Rayu Padanya, which was also the original soundtrack for the movie Sumber Ilhamku. - BERNAMA