Famed entertainment journalist,

lyricist Mama Juwie dies at 62

KUALA LUMPUR: Famed entertainment writer and lyricist Mama Juwie died
at 10.41pm today at UKM Medical Centre, due to health complications
including prostate cancer.
Mama Juwie, or his real name Abdul Jalil Saleh, 62, had been admitted to the
hospital and was undergoing treatment since the middle of last month before
being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his condition
deteriorated.
His brother Osman Salleh told Bernama that Mama Juwie never regained
consciousness after undergoing an operation for a second time.
His niece, who wanted to be known as Ina, said her uncles situation
worsened as his other organs began failing.
A few days before the operation, he was interacting with us for about two
days but he was very weak. He requested for porridge and a drink by writing it
down on paper, she said.
Mama Juwie died in the presence of his family members.
He is expected to be buried next to his mothers grave at the Selayang Muslim
Cemetery today.
Mama Juwie began his career at Berita Harian in 1974 before moving to
Utusan Malaysia in 1984, where he carved a name and following under his
well known column Auw! Juwie in Utusans Pancaindera section. He was
promoted as Mangga Magazines editor in 1995 and retired in July 2008.
Media Prima Berhad chairman Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar then offered him to write
an entertainment column in Berita Harian under the Auw Juwie! column
every Saturday.
Mama Juwie was also as a well known lyricist, having penned for local artists
such as Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Ramlah Ram, Siti Fairuz, Nassier Wahab,
Shidee, Gersang, Spring and May.

Among the hit songs with his lyrics were Cintaku Hanyut Di Lautan Sepi
(Ramlah Ram) Bila Rindu Ku Sebut Namamu (Siti Fairuz), Sampai Hati
(Spring), Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu (Alleycats), Masih Aku Terasa (Gersang)
dan Meraung (New Boyz) and Kad Ucapan (Norsheila Amin).
Juwie was also a joint winner of the 1988 Juara Lagu competition with famed
composer Datuk Ahmad Nawab for the song Kau Kunci Cintaku Di Dalam
Hatimu sung by Ramlah Ram.
Upon retirement he was active in religious activities.
Johan on his Twitter handle posted An old friend, a former Utusan Melayu,
renowned entertainment journalist, A. Jalil Salleh (Juwie/Mama Juwie) passed
away just now. Al-Fatihah. The late Juwie was the entertainment journalist in
Mingguan Malaysia when I was chief editor in UM. He then became the
Mangga editor.