KEPALA BATAS, June 9 — Popular 1980s and 1990s entertainment journalist Kamal Huzaini Kamaludin, popularly known as Huzz, died at his brother's home in Bertam Perdana yesterday evening, aged 58.
This was confirmed by his sister, Malaysian National News Agency chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, who said Huzz was diagnosed with Stage Four colorectal cancer in March and had been receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) for nearly two months.
“He was allowed to leave the hospital in May and requested to stay with our brother Kamal Hisham in Bertam Perdana, as his (Huzz's) sister-in-law and nephew are doctors, and he was also receiving treatment at the Penang Hospice Centre.
“On Thursday (June 6), the doctor (at HPP) who was treating him informed us that my brother's condition had become critical based on the cancer tissues spreading in his body, and we were told to prepare for the worst,” she said.
Huzz, the third of six siblings, passed away peacefully surrounded by all family members who had gathered since Friday (June 7) at the house in Bertam Perdana.
The veteran journalist, who would have turned 59 in July, had wanted his siblings and family to be with him ever since he was brought to Bertam Perdana.
“He asked for all siblings and our mother to be with him here (Bertam Perdana), and when he took his last breath, we were all there," said a visibly emotional Nur-ul.
She added that her brother started feeling unwell in November last year but did not expect to be diagnosed later with colorectal cancer.
“At that time, he lost a lot of weight, and suddenly he thought (the weight loss) was due to diabetes because he did have diabetes, but in March, when he was living with my younger sister, he fell at home.
“We took him to HKL, and further examination diagnosed him with Stage Three colon cancer, but soon it was Stage Four. The specialist who treated him did not plan to carry out chemotherapy treatment due to his weak condition,” Nur-ul said.
On arrival at Bertam Perdana on May 31, Penang Hospice Centre personnel came to visit and monitor his brother, who also chose to be there because he wanted to be closer to his family.
“Among his plans, he wanted to celebrate Aidiladha (this mid-June) with all the family members here, and we also planned to do so because, during the last Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Huzz was in HKL. Alas, that wish could not be fulfilled.
“However, we are all grateful that Huzz left us peacefully, the funeral arrangements went smoothly, and we, the brothers and sisters and (their) mother feel grateful for being able to fulfil his wish that he wanted us all to be by his side from yesterday. We had a chat even though it was brief but he knew we were with him,” she said.
Later that night, Huzz was laid to rest at the Permatang Langsat Muslim cemetery in Seberang Perai. His body was taken to Masjid Abdullah Fahim to be bathed and shrouded, followed by the funeral prayers after the Isyak congregational prayer before being buried at 9.45pm.
The last rites were led by the mosque's imam Muhammad Izzat Matjidi, with the deceased's family members and a congregation of 200 mourners.
Throughout his career, Huzz had worked at Harian Nasional, Kumpulan Karangkraf, and Utusan Melayu, before being assigned to Utusan Karya to handle several magazines, where his last position was senior editor of URTV magazine.
He was also popular through his gossip column called ‘Sensasi Huzz’ in the Pancaindera insert of Mingguan Malaysia.
Huzz was also known as the son of editor AR Kamarudin, who had worked in Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia.
He was also an accomplished lyricist, and was widely known for his song Keangkuhan Mu, which was popularised by Ramlah Ram.
— Bernama
