Umi Kalthum passes away

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Umi Kalthum passes away

Writer: Dzamira Dzafri

The actress was reported to have died peacefully in her sleep.

25 Jul – Local veteran actress Datin Umi Kalthum, 81, did not wake from her slumber two nights ago, at her daughter Noor Kumalasari's house, in Taman Ukay Prima Saujana Melawati.

Noor Kumalasari, 57, also an actress, said that her eldest sister had gone to wake her mother up for sahur prayers around 4am when she found that Umi had passed away in her sleep.

Umi Kalthum in "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih".

"My mother did not have any critical illness and was very active despite her age," said Noor. She also stated that her mother's behaviour had been normal when they last met two days ago.

Throughout her career, Umi Kalthum, whose real name is Patimah Bahudin, had starred in over 20 films, including "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih", "Raden Mas", "Laila Majnun", "Menanti Hari Esok" and "Syukur 21".

Her portrayal of the evil characters in the film "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih" with Latifah Omar had been one of the most acclaimed performances during her time and has since been a classic for Malaysian audiences. She was also selected as one of the most beautiful Malay women in Asia in her heyday by a magazine in Australia.

She is survived by eight children as well as 22 grandchildren and a great-grandson from her marriage with the late actor Roomai Noor.

Umi Kalthum will be laid to rest at the Klang Gate Muslim Cemetary at Hulu Klang, before the Zohor prayers.

Cinema Online, 25 July 2013