BATU PAHAT: Veteran actor and comedian Zainal Ariffin Abd Hamid, popularly known as Zaibo, has passed away at his home in Rengit near here at 1.30pm. He was 62.
News of his passing was confirmed by his stepson Hafiz in a Facebook post.
“Assalamualaikum (May Peace Be Upon You), I'm Hafiz. On behalf of Zainal Ariffin Abd Hamid's family, I would like to inform everyone that father has passed away at 1.30pm today."
Zaibo was diagnosed with stage-four esophageal cancer in September and had undergone treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Zaibo is best known for his role in TV sitcom Spanar Jaya, fantasy musical movie Magika, Awan Dania The Movie, as well as the 1999 Hollywood movie Anna And The King.
Meanwhile, Yayasan Artis Malaysia president Datuk DJ Dave confirmed Zaibo's death and extended his condolences to the late actor's family.
“I was informed of this sad news by his wife Siti Hawa Sawal. Zaibo passed away at about 1pm and will be buried in Batu Pahat, Johor, after Isyak tonight," he said when contacted.
On Monday, Zaibo was visited by Johor royal couple Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim and Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, who read about his plight in the newspapers.