Friends, ex-colleagues recall newscaster’s winning ways
KUALA LUMPUR: The late newscaster and emcee Datuk Mahadzir Lokman won many hearts with his humility, compassion, knowledge and good humour.
Producer Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina described him as her mentor in emceeing, who “threw her into the deep end” when he made her host an event for the sultan of Pahang in the early 1990s.
“He gave me a quick course on protocol, enlightening me on the correct forms of address to VIPs.
“I was trembling, but he had great faith in me, and I did it,” she said.
“From that day onwards, I didn’t feel nervous and emceeing for VIPs became an easy task.”
Tiara said Mahadzir excelled in music and acting, and gave strong support to musicals which she produced, such as P. Ramlee and Puteri Gunung Ledang.
He starred in two English plays in the 1990s, Kuala Lumpur Knock Out and Sarong.
Actor and comedian Datuk Afdlin Shauki said Mahadzir was a “super emcee” he looked up to.
“I’ve always been impressed with his multilingualism, confidence and down-to-earth ways. He is a Malaysian icon and we’ll all miss him.”
Mahadzir’s one-time colleague in TV3, producer Ezzah Aziz Fawzy, said Mahadzir, fondly known as Abang Dale, was her mentor and friend whom she would always be grateful for.
“He taught me a lot about being a broadcaster — screen presence, intonation and best of all, handling VIPs on the set.”
She said Mahadzir loved cracking jokes and did so to make her feel relaxed.
“He saw goodness in everyone and even when he was serious, he sprinkled humour into his words.”
Former Majalah Tiga host Wan Zaleha Radzi, who read the 8pm news Buletin Utama with Mahadzir, described him as a brilliant teacher and friend.
“We had great synergy as a team because we got along great. He taught me a lot, with kindness and patience, and was immensely talented, too.”
She said Mahadzir sang Kopratasa’s hit song, Kekasih, based on literary giant Datuk Usman Awang’s poem of the same name, beautifully for an episode of Majalah Tiga in the mid 1980s, which focused on Usman’s contributions to Malaysian literature.
“During our days as newscasters, we would communicate with a special sign language that he taught me.
“For instance, whenever I was waving to the crew, I would touch my ears.
“Over the years, we kept in touch and visited each other on special and festive occasions.”
Newscaster Ras Adiba Radzi said Mahadzir was a perfectionist, who set high standards, yet guided her like a gentleman.
Producer Nurfarahin Jamsari, who co-hosted the talk show Sekapur Sirih with Mahadzir in the 1990s, said he was one of her best friends and a “great teacher” to his juniors.
Celebrity friends of Mahadzir took to Facebook to express their shock and sadness over his death.
The pioneer newscaster of TV3 who hosted entertainment programme Melodi and morning talk show Sekapur Sirih, spent two weeks at the University Malaya Medical Centre beginning Sept 24 last year after collapsing at home.