KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran rock lyricist and actor Bob Lokman, 58, died at his house in Kubang Kerian, Kota Baru, Kelantan around 2pm today.
The death of Bob, whose real name is Mohd Hakim Lokman, was announced by Search lead singer Datuk Suhaimi Abdul Rahman or Amy on his Instagram page around 2.30pm.
"We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. Malaysian music has lost a great son, Mohd Hakim Lokman or Bob Lokman this holy Friday.
"He was the man behind many timeless rock songs such as Isabella by Search.
"May Allah bless and grant forgiveness to him and put him amongst the righteous," said Amy.
Jejak Rasul host and songwriter Ahmad Fedtri Yahya also shared the news of Bob's death on his Facebook page.
"Bob Lokman has left us. Malaysia has lost a great rock musician who penned some of our best known rock songs.
"May Allah bless his soul," said Ahmad Fedtri.
Bob, who had been active in the music industry since the 1980s, had been suffering from heart and kidney ailments for almost a decade.
In an interview on June 28, Bob said that his heart was only functioning at 10 per cent, and was "battery powered".
"I'm continuing to fight my battle against heart and kidney problems. I'm dependent on a battery-powered device, the Implantable Automatic Cardioverter Defibrilator (IACD) to keep my heart going," said Bob.
"So long as this battery doesn't go off, I live to fight another day!"
Bob also said that he went for follow-up treatment every three months.
"Here's when the doctors check on my health and give me medicines. My heart now is like a generator, even if it is charged daily, its power will slowly dwindle."
Bob underwent surgery at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star, Kedah to insert an IACD which stabilises his heartbeats in 2020.
"I thank God that my wife and children are 100 per cent behind me and take good care of me," said Bob.
Bob, who once hosted Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) is best known for writing Search's monster hit Isabella, Datuk Hattan's hits Rendang Tidak Berubah and Memburu Rindu, and Wings' hit Taman Rashidah Utama.
Bob, the great grandson of the legendary Kelantanese religious scholar Muhammad Yusuf Ahmad or Tok Kenali (1868–1933), received his early education at the Maahad Hamidiah Religious School in Kajang, Selangor and began his songwriting career in 1987 when he penned Wings' hit song Intanku Kesepian.
Bob also became a popular actor, and appeared in dramas and comedy series such as Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu, 2+1 and Tentang Bulan The Series, and films such as Yes Tuan, Iskandar, Bomoh, Zoo, Jin Notti and Sekali Lagi.
He joined Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas) in February 2011 and was actively involved in its political campaigns especially during general elections and by-elections.
Bob is survived by his widow Relawati Daud and seven children. Their eldest son Mohamad Adam Hakim died of a brain tumour in 2018.
He and Relawati managed a Laksa Kedah outlet in their hometown over the last decade.