Mahadzir a national broadcasting icon

KUALA LUMPUR: The death of popular TV personality and emcee Datuk Mahadzir Lokman, 61, early yesterday morning has been described as a big lost to the local broadcasting industry.

Popularly known as Dato Dale, news of his death shocked many, especially his close friends and local artistes who shared their memories of him on the social media yesterday.

A close friend, Farel Gafar, 31, told Bernama he was shocked and saddened over the death of a very good person.

“The last time I met him was just before he left for Sabah. I noticed that of late, Mahadzir often spent a lot of time with close friends at his home,” he said.

Popular singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin also shared the sad news on her Instagram account by uploading a photograph of Mahadzir.

“There are many memories with him, one was when he was host at a concert in the Royal Albert Hall, London. He always liked to impart knowledge and was a kind person,” she said.

Actress Maya Karin also wrote of her memories of Mahadzir on her Twitter account: “He was kind to me when I was 17 and slightly scared of my first theatre main role in Malaysia”.

Chief executive officer of AirAsia Group Tan Sri Tony Fernandes also posted on his Twitter account: “A man whom I grew up (with). From music to airlines, his voice was always there. A good man who was always positive and always sincere. I will miss him. RIP”.

Mahadzir died at about 9.30am in a hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, believed to be from health complications.

Last year, he was warded at the Intensive Care Unit in the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for kidney and lung complications.

Mahadzir began his career as a newsreader in TV3 in 1984, and was one of the first hosts in several of the station’s programmes including Sekapur Sirih, Malaysia Hari Ini ( MHI) and Melodi.

He was frequently called upon to be the emcee in international events as he was known to be f luent in several languages including French, Spanish and Italian. — Bernama