MAN WHO COINED ‘PROTON SAGA’ DIES
Ismail Jaafar won a car with his entry to name Proton’s first sedan model in 1985
ARETIRED army staff sergeant who shot to fame three decades ago after winning a competition to name the national car company’s first model — Proton Saga — died on Friday.
Ismail Jaafar, 71, died at his home in Taman Nuri here at 3.10pm, two days after being discharged from Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital because of health complications.
His son, Mohd Sarisffuddin Ismail, said his father, who suffered from heart disease, diabetes and asthma, was warded for 51 days at the hospital after falling ill since returning from performing the haj in November.
He said Ismail, who was attached to the Royal Malaysian Army’s 2nd Division Camp in Penang prior to his retirement in 1987, was discharged from the hospital two days ago, but his health deteriorated.
“He died in the presence of my mother, Sariah Abdul Rahman, 69, and my sibling.”
Sarisffuddin said his father had been unwell for the past eight years and was hospitalised in Mecca while performing the haj.
Ismail was buried at the Amanjaya Muslim Cemetery here yesterday evening.
Sarisffuddin described his father as caring and responsible.
“We will miss him dearly, but we are grateful for being able to fulfil all his wishes, expect for one, before he left us forever.”
He said Ismail had wished for his children to locate the Proton Saga that he won in the competition in 1985.
“My father had to sell the car years ago as he needed money to fund the tertiary education of my two younger siblings.”
He said he and his brother had tried looking for the car in the Pendang area, but to no avail.
In the competition, Ismail defeated thousands of other entries to win Proton’s first 1,300cc sedan model after naming it “Saga”.