KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran artiste and champion of Bintang RTM in 1978, M Rizal, has passed away. He was 71.
According to Harian Metro, he died at 10.50pm last night at his residence in Taman Damai Jaya, Skudai, Johor.
M Rizal was the Bintang RTM winner a year before Malaysian King of Pop, Datuk Jamal Abdillah won the title.
Born in Teluk Intan, Perak, the veteran artiste relreased three studio albums, namely M. Rizal in 1979, Di Wajah Meja Cinta (1985) and Menanti Kehadiran Cintamu (1993).
Some of his popular songs include Abang Beca, Hatiku Menangis Kernamu and Usah Kau Rayu Padanya, which was also the soundtrack for the 1979 movie Sumber Ilhamku.
Earlier, M Rizal had been admitted to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak due to gout.