Warm tributes pour in for Jit Murad on social media

PETALING JAYA: Touching tributes have poured in on social media for the late Jit Murad, who died at his home in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (Feb 12).

The theatre actor-director-writer was 62.

Actor and comedian Harith Iskander posted a heartfelt tribute with photographs on Facebook, saying there would never be another Jit Murad.

"Thank you for your wit, your intelligence and your 'in your face' honesty," he said.

Harith recalled a time when they hung out day after day chatting about films, books and all sorts of unrelated topics.

Although they hadn't seen each other over the last few years, he said they were consistently taking jabs at each other over Facebook.

"There will never be another Jit Murad - the country has lost a true genius.

"Thank you for your talent. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your comedy, your writings and your words.

"I will hold all other memories of you privately because - let's be honest here - you openly lived a life so honest and unworried about what others thought that made you so special and true.

"Many will miss you, Jit. I will miss you too. Al-Fatihah," Harith said.

Actress Sharifah Amani Syed Zainal Rashid Al-Yahya, in her post on social media, expressed "I love you so much, Uncle Jit".

"My heart is broken but I find solace in the hope that you will be reunited with your loved ones.

"I will forever tell the story of how you came to my kindergarten to pick up your nephew but it was me that ran into your arms first," she said.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said in a tweet that he was "so very sad" to hear of Jit Murad’s death.

"We worked together in A Man For All Seasons (a play presented by Actor’s Studio, directed by Joe Hasham) in 2004.

"His acerbic wit, incisive commentaries on social life, and bonhomie will forever be missed. Al-Fatihah," he said.

Music producer and songwriter Aubrey Suwito also tweeted, "Al-Fatihah Jit Murad. Yours is truly a creative soul."

Comedian Phoon Chi Ho described Jit as "the only true genius in our local comedy scene."

Musician and filmmaker Pete Teo wrote on Facebook that while they never got the chance to know each other real well, he wished it was otherwise.

"You were always the brightest star among us restless children. Peace at last, friend," he said.