A CLASS ACT!

NO ONE knows the hour of their death but the warning signs for me are there and I know mine is very near,” said the late actress and comedian Yusni Jaafar in a phone conversation two weeks ago (before she was warded again for liver cirrhosis).

The conversation, I remember, was loaded with verses from the Quran. It was almost like the parting words of a mother who was about to leave for a “long journey”, never to return.

The last few words of Yusni were most memorable. For last Tuesday , Yusni, 62, succumbed to the illness and died at the Selayang Hospital in Selangor.

The bubbly veteran actress left behind her husband, five children and nine grandchildren.

In recent years, Yusni was plagued by ill health. First, it was diabetes, then the blood pressure. Her health steadily deteriorated over the last two years.

When she was first diagnosed with liver cirrhosis six months ago, the news shattered her.

But Yusni coped in her usual jovial way. She was amazingly strong and remained positive till the end.

When the doctor informed the family a week ago that Yusni’s days were numbered, they decided to spend as much time with her as possible.

“We did our best to make her happy and tried to fulfil all her wishes, including preparing the food that she liked,” said her half-sister, actress Sukarni Jaafar, who has been by her sister’s side ever since she was diagnosed.

For Sukarni, Yusni was a loving and doting sister who put her family above all else.

The Tumpat, Kelantan-born actress will be missed by her family, fans and many others in the entertainment scene where she is regarded as a maternal figure (affectionately known as ibu).

“She makes you feel like you are a part of her (family). That’s why she is well liked by everyone in the industry,” said Zaibo, a local comedian. Veteran actor Datuk Aziz Sattar remembers her as a dedicated actress.

“She is a true anak seni (artiste). No matter how sick she was, she would be up for call time. A disciplined and committed actress, Yusni not only learnt her parts but also made it a point to know how each character interacted with the others,” he said.

She was born Yusni Jaafar Sidik in 1946 into a large family. There were nine siblings. Her eldest sister, from a different father, was actress Kasma Booty.

It was Kasma who brought Yusni to Merdeka Studio in 1960; Yusni got her first break in the black-and-white movie titled Abu Nawas, directed by A.R. Tompel in 1962.

Yusni’s work ethic impressed actor/director Hans Isaac immensely.

“I believe this characteristic allowed ibu to juggle her duties as a mother, wife and actress and still remain sane and cheerful. She could concentrate entirely on the job in front of her, she could close herself off from ‘the world’ around her,” said Hans, who had the privilege of working with Yusni in the movie CUCI.

One of the earliest memories this writer has of Yusni is a video clip from Basikal Tua, also starring the late Sudirman, and aired over RTM in the early 80s. It was quite a hilarious clip and will be fondly remembered.

Yusni has acted in more than 20 movies which include Panglima Badol, Setinggan, Sikit Punya Gila, Gila-Gila Remaja, Balik Kampung, Hantu Siang, Guru Badul, Antara Dua Hati, Pening-Pening Lalat, and the cult favourite Driving School.

While her TV appearances are countless, among the most memorable was Santan Berlada in the late 80s alongside Mr Os, Fauziah Nawi, Khairul Azhar dan Ali Mamak. Throughout her illustrious career as an actress, Yusni was awarded the best comedy actress at the 8th Malaysian Film Festival in 1989.

Acting was in her blood; her parents Jaafar Sidik and Kusmunati Mustajjib were actors with their own bangsawan troop in those days. Both parents hailed from Medan in Indonesia.

Yusni never went to any singing school yet she started singing professionally at six. At 11, she took up acting, and earned her first salary when she acted as a maid-in-waiting in a Cathay Keris movie alongside sister Kasma Booty who played the lead.

In the 60s, her whole family moved to Kuala Lumpur. Yusni tested her singing talent by entering Bintang Radio Gombak Setia.

Soon she made a career as a nightclub singer at 12, emulating her mentor Saloma.

She started her musical career as a club singer in Kowloon Club, Kuala Lumpur. Her acting career only picked up when she landed a role in A.R. Tompel’s Abu Nawas. She was paid RM15 but the role she played – an ugly gal with a big nose – made her famous.

She went on to act in movies like Keris Sempena Riau and Siti Payung, directed by Salleh Ghani. She was also given the honour as the playback singer for Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s movie Damak.

Yusni decided to quit as a nightclub singer when she married musician Raja Ibrahim Raja Mansur. In 1973, Yusni resumed her singing job to help her husband.

Though comedy came naturally to Yusni, it was only in the 80s that she received recognition for her talents.

It will be hard to fill the void left by Yusni. She is in a class of her own - ZIEMAN startwo@thestar.com.my (8/4/2008)