KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran singer Rohana Jalil, 68, is in critical condition at the intensive care unit of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia here.
Her close friend and fellow veteran singer, Datin Salwa Abdul Rahman, informed people of her condition on Instagram and Facebook yesterday.
Salwa, 58, said she was shocked and saddened to hear of her ailing friend's undisclosed illness and urged Malaysians to pray for her speedy recovery.
"Rohana is kept under strict observation by doctors. She has never had serious illnesses before this. Let's pray for her."
Salwa added that their mutual friend, veteran singer and actor, Jaafar Onn, sang with Rohana at Plaza Shah Alam last Sunday, and while singing, she suddenly could not get up from her seat.
"She began to feel weak. It came as a shock to Jaafar and I as she had always been fit."
Salwa told Berita Harian Online today that Rohana was rushed to hospital yesterday, and her family members told her that her condition was critical.
"The family does not allow visitors as she is in ICU and is on oxygen support."
Salwa said Rohana had become "a lot thinner" over the last year.
"Let us all pray that she will be out of danger and recover."
Rohana, from Kota Tinggi in Johor, began singing at the age of 17 and joined the talent search Bintang RTM in 1976.
She did not win that year, and tried her luck again in Bintang RTM 1980, emerging triumphant.
The mother of three children, including actress Kilafairy, finished third in the Best Performance category of Anugerah Juara Lagu 1 (1986) for Cinta Yang Terbiar.
She has 12 studio albums including Di Suatu Ketika (1983) and Rayuanku (1988).
In 1993, Rohana recorded the patriotic song Sejahtera Malaysia with singers Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Azlina Aziz, Datuk Elaine Kang and Desiree De Silva.
Their music video was featured daily on Radio Televisyen Malaysia before the closing of transmission at midnight.