KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran funnyman AR Badul's recent heart attack has been a "wake up call" for him to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
The 69-year-old son of legendary actor AR Tompel said in a news report yesterday that he was "giving up smoking cigarettes" to avoid falling sick.
"My hospitalisation has made me turn away from cigarettes. Even my eating habits are changing, with a little help from my wife who monitors what I eat. Furthermore, I'm doing light exercises on a daily basis," said Badul.
He added: "Thank God I'm up and about again. It's like having a second chance in life. But this time, I'll listen to the doctor's advice not to overwork myself."
The father of seven is the director of animated series, Mac & Ted, which is currently in its third season.
Badul, the elder brother of My Spy actor Adlin Aman Ramlie, was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Jalan Tun Razak last Feb 17 and underwent minor heart surgery.
He appeared in his first film Si Badol in 1978, and has starred in more than 30 films, including Hantu Siang, Senario The Movie and Kerja Kahwin.
Badul won Best Actor and Best Director for the film Oh Fatimah at the 8th Malaysian Film Festival in 1989.