Jamali Shadat loves serving community at local mosque and surau

Jamali giving Firdaus a ride on his motorbike.

A moustached man with a child’s voice. That’s how most Malaysians remember comedian Datuk Jamali Shadat, in his role as Atan, a precocious grandson who is also the apple of his grandfather’s eye.

But for a whole new generation of youth who go to Klang’s Al-Mubarak Surau in Kampung Sungai Pinang and Masjid Abdul Rahman in Pulau Indah, Jamali is a no-nonsense man.

Seventy-five-year-old Jamali is a busy man, playing an active role in both the mosque and surau to assist in making the call to prayer or azan.

“I don’t joke when I am teaching my students to recite the Quran. Comedy is for stage. Not when one is in a place of prayer,” he said crisply.

On Wednesdays, he teaches Quran reading and on Thursdays he joins the congregation in prayers for the departed.

During weekends, he practises with the nasyid group which is regularly called to perform at weddings.

“I am very close to my community,” he added.

Jamali entertaining visitors in his bungalow.

From as early as 1975, while at the height of his popularity as a comedian, Jamali was also an administrator with the Community Development Department (Kemas), helping the government organise classes under the Kapar parliamentary constituency.

He oversaw 136 classes offering courses such as cooking, sewing, rattan weaving as well as machinery and bicycle repair.

“This was part of the Government’s effort to increase the villagers’ income. Part of my responsibility was to build networking channels for the trainees so they could find buyers for their products,” he said.

His other portfolios have included roles like Umno information chief for the Kapar division and acting vice-chairman for the National Anti Drug Agency (Pemadam).

Among his proudest contributions to the Pulau Indah community was during his time as the local mosque’s welfare committee member.

His first job was to seek Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s help to light up Jalan Dato Harun, a main street in Kampung Teluk Nipah, where he lives now.

Jamali then and now. The man is still funny but only when he’s on stage. Otherwise, the father of eight is a no-nonsense character.

He also remembers with pride the time he and a team of 16 volunteers cleared the Kampung Sungai Pinang Muslim cemetery of lalang and undergrowth 10 years ago.

“In my mind, I wanted the dead to rest in peace in a beautiful garden. When we started, the place was a mess. It took us three years of work,” said Jamali, who has since given up the position to allow the younger generation to take over.

Today he reserves his energy only for his garden, including cleaning up his chicken and duck coops.

Judging by the healthy potted plants in his compound, the former school gardener, who had served for 22 years, still has a green thumb.

Among the flourishing plants are sand ginger, Sabah snake grass and bougainvilleas.

The man is still funny, but only when he gets an invite to perform. Otherwise, this father of eight children and grandfather of 34, describes himself as a man of few words.

“I don’t even joke with my family these days,” he said.

Jamali when he was 65. He is a well-loved impersonator and mimic.

Jamali is now the main caregiver of his wheelchair-bound wife, Lela Yacob, 73, whom he describes as the woman behind his success.

He is also a doting grandfather to Putra Amir, 14, who was born with cerebral palsy and eight-year-old Firdaus.

“I sleep with Firdaus. Sometimes, at 11pm, he would tell me to get up and peel an apple for him. So I have to get up and do it. ” said this indulgent grandfather.