KUALA LUMPUR: The adopted son of the late, great artiste Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Sazali, expressed disappointment when his recent royalty payment saw a steep 90 per cent drop.
Admitting that he was shocked with the amount that he received, Sazali who is the beneficiary to P. Ramlee's royalty rights, did not discount the fact that the recent controversy surrounding the bodies tasked with collecting royalties might have been a factor in the decreased payout.
"The total amount collected is huge but the distributed payment for last month was very surprising because it was 90 per cent less from the previous amount.
"Naturally, I am very disappointed with all that has happened. Although I only get it once a year, the money from these royalties helps to sustain my wife and I.
"I really hope that this crisis that involves the bodies collecting royalties will be solved quickly so that the rights of the arts practitioners can be upheld," he said in a news report yesterday.
Sazali added that he was merely defending his rights and that his statement was not meant to mean that he was ungrateful in any manner.
"Whatever the case, I am immensely thankful for the payment that was given to me. It's just that as an heir, I certainly want to know what exactly had caused the amount to drop so steeply this year," he said.
Sazali was met during the Ziarah Finas Prihatin 2.0 programmed at his house in Semenyih, Hulu Langat yesterday.
The charity programme organised by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) via its industry members' affairs, welfare and industry data committee saw Sazali receiving a contribution of cash, a wheelchair and various kitchen supplies.
Also present during the charity delivery session was Finas chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid.
The effort by Finas was carried out in collaboration with a series of strategic partners, namely Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman), Persatuan Sutradara Malaysia (FDAM), Persatuan Pekerja Profesional Filem Malaysia (Profima), Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd Holdings (GISBH), Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Mapim), Cdert Ohhsem Angkatan Pertahanan Awam (APM) and Yayasan Felda.
Sazali, 62, who is now using a walking stick after his right leg was hurt in an accident, was moved by the caring gesture.
"Thank you to Finas and all those involved for making the effort to check up on me and help me out. I can't deny that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our lives.
"The contributions that I've received will certainly help lighten my burden," he said.