Amen Khalid mourns Cik Man, says plan to cast him in Rock 5 will go unfulfilled

KUALA LUMPUR – Film director Amen Khalid says he is still struggling to accept the death of veteran actor Kamarool Yusoff, better known as Cik Man, describing him as a true artiste and a very special person in his life.

Amen, the son of the late Mamat Khalid, said he had known Kamarool since he was five years old and regarded him as a father figure.

"I really feel sad and heavy-hearted. I've known him since I was five. I saw him as a father too, but now he is gone," he said when contacted by Utusan Malaysia yesterday evening. (Quote translated from Malay.)

"He was very supportive and I will miss his antics because there is no one like him. He was truly the one and only."

Amen said he and his late father often joked by imitating Cik Man's mannerisms during conversations, a sign of how close the actor was to their family.

The news of the death came as a shock, he added, and he needed time to come to terms with it.

"I've known him since the early days of making the Rock film. In my eyes, he was never arrogant, always smiling, loved to joke and was happy-go-lucky," he said.

"For me, if there is any suitable character, it is Cik Man's face that comes to mind first."

Final project together

Amen said their last time working together was on the film Hantu Lompat di Kampung Pisang, now in the final stage of post-production involving CGI work. It is expected to be released either at the end of this year or next year.

"What saddens me most is that he never got to watch the film," he said.

He also revealed that he and Hasnul Rahmat had been planning Rock 5 since last year and are currently developing the storyline.

"That is what makes me saddest, because I really wanted to include Cik Man in that film. But it seems that wish will not be fulfilled. To me, there is no replacement for him," he said.

Earlier, Cik Man, 67, was reported to have died at about 5pm at Hospital Tanah Merah, Kelantan. His second son, Fakhrol Aliff, confirmed the death. A day earlier, he had been sedated in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to a blocked heart artery.

Cik Man made his debut as the character Farouk in Gila-Gila Remaja. The name Farouk, synonymous with him among fans of the 1980s, later gave way to Cik Man, his character in Rock Oo, directed by the late Mamat Khalid.