03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Ailing actor Dharma getting thinner, weighing only 45kg
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular 1980s actor Dharma Harun Al-Rashid, 69, is reportedly experiencing a deterioration in his physical condition.
The news was shared by his son, Muhammad Al Syafiq, on his Instagram Story yesterday.
Syafiq posted a picture of Dharma performing prayers while seated, along with a heartfelt caption.
"It's okay... wife is not around, but there's God, alright as long as can still pray," Syafiq wrote.
He continued, expressing concern for his father's diminishing weight: "My dad is getting skinnier. But this is the challenges with all sorts of problems to face. But it doesn't matter as every problem is a test to succeed and continue to work hard to get excellent results in my studies so that one day I can get a proper job."
Syafiq also acknowledged the public's support, saying, "The support of many and the prayers of people are what allows us to still breathe in this confined space."
He concluded with a message of resilience: "What good does it do to just be sad, this chalenge is just a small one, many others are struggling harder out there. Have to be grateful and persevere."
When contacted via WhatsApp, Dharma, known for his roles in films like Adik Manja and Sikit Punya Gila, confirmed his current weight is only 45kg.
He further revealed that he is suffering from several health issues, including gastritis, asthma, swelling of the heart and lungs, and a thyroid condition.
Dharma's health struggles are not new. He has had difficulty speaking fluently since suffering a stroke in 2019.
This condition also affects his memory, making it challenging for him to recall information and prevents him from being active in his artistic career, whether as a director or actor.
He currently relies on medication and memory-strengthening exercises recommended by his doctor.
His plight has garnered attention from various arts associations across the country, as well as from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister's political secretary, Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, visited Dharma last year as part of the Ziarah Madani Programme.
Dharma currently lives with his son Syafiq, 36, and daughter Siti Qurratu Aini, 37.
Both are still students at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara).
