KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — One of the country’s legendary singers, Tan Sri S.M. Salim, 88, died at his home in Ukay Perdana, today, from old age.

He breathed his last at 5.44pm after he became gravely ill since early yesterday that he had to be put on a ventilator.

"With sadness, I announce that Tan Sri S.M. Salim has passed away at 5.44pm,” a family representative of the late singer told Bernama through a WhatsApp message.

Yesterday, there had been a stream of close relatives and friends arriving at the singer’s family home to read the Yasin after he was reported to be in critical condition.

S.M. Salim, or his real name Sheikh Salim Sheikh Muhammad Al Mahros, began his career as a singer of classic Malay songs in the 1950s, and had been promoting this genre through the years with his stage and television appearances.

He became paralysed due to a nerve disorder and had been moving around on a wheelchair for the last 17 years. — Bernama