GEORGETOWN: A popular bodybuilder in the 50s and 60s in Penang, Ahmad Ali, 84, or better known as Mat Tarzan died at the Penang Hospital today, after falling into a coma following a road accident in Bayan Baru three days ago.
His second son, Amzah, 32, when met by Bernama at the hospital’s Forensic Unit said his father passed away at 5.30am at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“My father who was riding a motorcycle got into an accident on Saturday (Jan 31) at Bukit Gambir when returning from a nephew’s wedding feast.
“He was going down the hill in the area when he collided with a car which caused my father to fall and injure his head and right hand,” he said.
Amzah said his father was a jovial person and had won the Mr Penang title several times in the 50s and 60s.
In his career, Mat Tarzan had travelled all over the country to display his great strength and prowess, including walking on glass shards, bending iron rods with his neck and wrestling with a python.
Ahmad was given the title Mat Tarzan in 1958 by Penang’s first Chief Minister, Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee.
He leaves behind wife Julinah Abdullah, 68, and five children.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon paid his last respects to Ahmad at the Hashim Yahaya Mosque here before Mat Tarzan’s body was laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery in Jalan Perak after the Zohor prayers. -- Bernama