KUALA LUMPUR: "We've never forgotten Mamat. In fact, whenever Exists has a stage performance, he's always welcomed to sing with us. We're always waiting for him to do so," says Exists' bassist Musa Radhi.
The 51-year-old musician was quoted as saying this in a Harian Metro report yesterday when asked about their band's former vocalist, Mohd Ali Kamarudin, 46, who is still struggling with drug-related problems.
"We Exists members, Ajai, Along, Ujang and I, always try to look out for him. We've been thinking hard about what else we could do to help him improve his life.
"Among us, he's gone through the hardest test throughout his life, and repeatedly too," said Musa.
The bass player added that Mamat's choice of remaining in his hometown made it difficult for him to escape his unfortunate rut.
"Once, a lawyer told us to bring Mamat out from his village, so that his old 'buddies' wouldn't come looking for him and cause problems as he was trying to get over his addiction," he said.
Recently, Mamat pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court in Johor Baru for drug use.
It was reported that Judge Fatimah Zahari had ordered him to two years of supervision under the National Anti-Drug Agency in Bentong, Pahang.
Based on the amended charge, he was charged with taking methamphetamine at 2am on Sept 9, 2019.