THE PASSING OF YASMIN AHMAD, RENOWNED MALAYSIAN FILM DIRECTOR

Home > Breaking News > Lifestyle > StoryJuly 26, 2009Yasmin Ahmad laid to restRenowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, who died at the Damansara Specialists Centre last night. -- ST PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIRYASMIN AHMAD had died.For real, and not rumours as I had first thought.There was this numbing effect.This was not an entry that I had planned for today, but it was something I hope to get off my chest.There were so much that I wanted to say about a friend's passing.Parting of friends, is always, such sweet sorrow.As I have blogged before, LIFE IS A SERIES OF COMINGS AND GOINGS.No, we weren't close.Nevertheless, I am still shocked with disbelief since I first heard the news, as she had always painted a picture of brimming health and cheer.What can I really say?Life's so fragile, so never take anything for granted.It's such a huge, colossal loss.The Singapore Straits Times dedicated an article about YASMIN.Let me share the sad news with you here:KUALA LUMPUR - RENOWNED film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, who died at the Damansara Specialists Centre Saturday night, was laid to rest on Sunday at the USJ 22 Muslim Cemetery in Subang Jaya near here.Earlier, her remains were taken to the Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque for the solat jenazah and to allow family members, friends and fans to pay their last respects. About 200 people turned up at the mosque including residents in the area. Her remains were later taken to the cemetery and buried at about 1pm.Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was present, said the country lost a talented film director.'We are saddened by her sudden demise. In fact, there was a negotiation going on between Yasmin and Datuk Johan Jaafar (Media Prima Bhd executive director) to produce films and commercials on racial unity and the 1Malaysia concept,' he said.Mr Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said even though Yasmin could not fulfil her wish, he hoped that other film directors would take up from where Yasmin had left off in the efforts to nurture unity through arts. AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said the late Yasmin was a special person and full of fresh ideas. Songwriter Habsah Hassan described Yasmin's death as a great loss to the country's film industry.'It is difficult to find her replacement. She was cordial and able to attract people's attention easily, an attribute which enabled her to forge ties and cooperation among actors under her charge,' she said.Renowned film director Othman Hafsham said that even though he did not know Yasmin well, they did share ideas on how to produce high quality films and commercials.'She was a filmmaker with great ideas including in interpreting the 1Malaysia concept and promoting the culture of unity in her work. Here in this cemetery we can see the testimony of her work,' he said.Senator Jins Shamsudin echoed Mr Othman's sentiment and said that Yasmin was an extraordinary talent.Yasmin breathed her last at 11.25pm on Saturday night. She collapsed while presenting a working paper at the Sri Pentas, TV3's headquarters, on Thursday. -- BERNAMARead Reme Ahmad's blog on Yasmin Ahmad's legacy here.