Film director Yasmin Ahmad in hospital (Update 6)
KUALA LUMPUR: Critically-acclaimed movie and TV commercial director Yasmin Ahmad underwent emergency surgery at a hospital here after suffering a stroke at about 4:30pm on Thursday.
She was at Sri Pentas at TV3 for a meeting with pop diva Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and her husband Datuk Khalid Jiwa when she reportedly felt unwell and had difficulty breathing.
Siti, who was an ambassador for the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, immediately administered CPR, together with a TV3 panel doctor.
Film director Yasmin Ahmad
When they could not revive her, they immediately sent to the Intensive Care Unit at the Damansara Specialist Centre. Doctors there administered CPR and stabilised her before performing surgery at about 6pm to reduce the swelling in her brain.
Doctors said she was in stable but critical condition.
A host of Malaysian personalities were at the hospital, including Siti and Khalid, Suria FM’s Engku Emran, TV3 CEO Farid Jamaluddin, and indie filmmakers James Lee, Pete Teo, Liew Seng Tat.
According to former journalist and actress Fatimah Abu Bakar, Yasmin’s parents caught the 7pm flight from Langkawi to be at her side.
Datuk Dr Zakaria Zahari, Yasmin’s brother-in-law, said that her condition was stable but critical and will be monitored.
He requested that the media present at the hospital respect the family’s wishes and leave the premises to pray for Yasmin’s recovery.
Yasmin, 51, the director of Sepet, is particularly well known for the community message commercials she directed for Petronas.
She began her career in advertising as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather, eventually rising to creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur.
Her movies have won many international awards and have been screened at the Berlin, San Francisco, Singapore and Cannes international film festivals.
Last November, she was inducted into the inaugural Malaysian Advertising Hall of Fame by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia.
Article taken from The Star online at 8.21 pm, 23 July 2009.
Today is the day where the first Malaysian-Yasmin Ahmad was on the top of Twitter's Trending Topics. Let's all pray for her and hope that she gets well. I read her blog often enough to tell that she is kind, humble and down to earth. Even though she is a celebrity, she will reply comments personally and talks to everyone equally.
Dear Kak Yasmin,
Your movies and commercials have always touched our hearts and reminded us how proud we should be to be Malaysians. Today, you brought to us together again. You were the top of Twitter's Trending Topics. This just proves how Malaysians can unite. I really hope you will recover and see this for yourself. You will definitely be moved by all the things people are saying now, they are praying that you will be fine. Please be well.
Love,
Tammy
Updated 26 July 2009.
Yasmin Ahmad passed away at about 11.25 pm last night. She's the great storyteller who brought us beautiful movies and advertisements. I wish I had the chance to get to know her personally. You're a legend and we will always remember you. Rest in Peace. We'll miss you.
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