KUALA LUMPUR: The actor in the classic Malay movie Ali Baba Bujang Lapok, Kadir Mamat, who has been living in dire straits is set to receive a donation of RM12,259.55 from Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanahair (YKAT).
The collection for the 92-year-old artiste was made up of contributions from the public via a fund established in February.
YKAT President Datuk DJ Dave said the foundation hopes that the donation will help to ease the burden of the actor, who was the first thief to be doused with hot oil by Datuk Sarimah Ahmad's character Marjina, in the 1961 black-and-white Malay Film Productions movie.
He said Kadir has been suffering from asthma and prostate cancer for the past four years.
"We just contacted Kadir via video call and announced that the donations had been successfully collected.
"YKAT will hand over the donation to Kadir as quickly as possible so that the money can be used to buy medicine and food.
"Before this, YKAT had extended donations to Kadir about four years ago. We have also donated a wheelchair to make Kadir's movement easier.
"God willing, we will find a suitable time to visit Kadir who now lives in Kelantan with his wife, Hasmah Yusof," he said in a news report today.
DJ Dave added that he was grateful and moved by the people who had made the donations, who came from various races..
"When we received the bank statements, we noticed that the donors consisted of people from all racial groups from Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
"YKAT would like to offer a big thank you to those willing to contribute to ease the burden of Kadir who is now no longer able to work," he said.
Aside from his role in Ali Baba Bujang Lapok, directed by the late Tan Sri P Ramlee, Kadir was also involved in three more classic movies, namely Pendekar Bujang Lapok, Kanchan Tirana, and Enam Jahanam.
After four films, Kadir returned to his hometown and worked with a group of local comedians known as Wok Sir for almost 20 years, in addition to volunteering for the Civil Defense Force to earn a living.
Kadir, who has no children, currently depends on a monthly aid of RM400 from the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK).