KUALA LUMPUR: Evergreen songstress Datuk Sharifah Aini Syed Jaafar died of lung infection at 1.26am at the Damansara Specialist Centre today.
She was 61.
The much-loved singer, known fondly as Kak Pah, was admitted to the hospital on Monday after initially suffering breathing difficulties.
A source close to the family told the New Straits Times that her body would be buried at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery.
Her body left the hospital and was taken to the At-Taqwa Mosque in Taman Tun Dr Ismail for a special prayer.
“We have yet to confirm the exact time of the burial, but I think it should be before the Zuhur prayers,” said the source.
Two years ago, Sharifah Aini was diagnosed with lung fibrosis, a rare condition which causes hardening and scarring of the lungs, which interferes with a person’s ability to breathe normally.
She first entered the public consciousness after clinching the “Bintang RTS 1968”, a talent show held in Singapore, with her song Tiga Malam.
Among the accolades she received included the Best Entertainer Award (Anugerah Sri Angkasa 1972-1977) and Best Actress Award for the film Hapuslah Airmatamu in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival 1977.
She was also bestowed the Biduanita Negara title, the country’s most prestigious award for female artistes, for her contribution to the music industry.
In June 2003, she was conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) award, which carries the title ‘Datuk’, from the Federal government.
She is survived by her only son, Aliff Omar Ali.