KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak expressed condolences to the family of legendary actor-director Jins Shamsuddin who died on Wednesday. He was 81.
"Sad to receive news of the passing of Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin. Condolences to the family. May his soul be blessed. Al Fatihah," he said in a post on his Twitter account Wednesday night.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a Twitter message, also offered his condolences.
"My condolences to the family of the late TS Jins Shamsuddin. May his soul be blessed. His contributions will be remembered for all time. Al Fatihah," he wrote.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak told Bernama: "Jins Shamsuddin was among the country's legendary figures who changed the local film landscape after Tan Sri P. Ramlee, who was also a legend. We will definitely miss him."
The actor died upon arrival at a clinic in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur, after he was rushed there when he complained of difficulty breathing while having tea at home at 5.45pm.
He is survived by his wife, Puan Sri Halijah Abdullah, and three sons, Putera Jefri Jins, Putera Hang Jebat and Putera Hang Nadim.
Born Mohamed Zain Shamsuddin, Jins acted in more than 40 local and international films, and directed a few box office movies in his 50 years in the industry, starting with his first movie entitled Matahari in 1951.
Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said Jins became well known as the Malay James Bond after playing the character Jefri Zain, a secret agent, in the movie entitled Gerak Kilat which successfully introduced local movie fans to the action thriller genre.
The actor was honoured by the government with the appointment of a senator for two terms, from 2004 to 2011, to represent the film community. He was the first actor to be accorded that status.
Born in Taiping, Perak, he was also conferred the Seniman Negara (National Artiste) award by the government in 2009 for his contribution to the development of the national film industry.
Fellow artistes expressed their condolences to his family.
Fauziah Datuk Ahmad Daud, popularly known as Ogy, said she would remember him for the guidance he gave that assisted in her acting.
"I still remember the shooting of the film Ali Setan. Jins was the director and he was so strict in ensuring that I played my character Asmidar well," she told Bernama at Jins' home on Wednesday.
Ogy said she hoped that Jins' son, Putera Hang Jebat, would continue the legacy of his father in the national film industry.
Film director Datuk Yusof Haslam said he learnt a lot from Jins in the field of arts and directing.
"Bukit Kepong was a film in which we acted together. I acted as Policeman Jaffar Hassan and the late Jins as Sergeant Jamil Md Shah," he said. Yusof said Jins' death was a huge loss to the country.
