MOTHER OF LATE JOURNALIST HUZZ TO RECEIVE SOCSO BENEFITS

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- The mother of entertainment journalist Kamal Huzaini Kamaludin, known as Huzz, who passed away on June 8, is entitled to receive benefits from the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Kuala Lumpur Socso director Mohamad Asri Ngosman said checks confirmed that the late Huzz was a registered contributor under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4). As a result, his mother, Noor Hamid, 79, is eligible to receive the Survivors' Pension under the Invalidity Scheme and Funeral Management Benefit (FMB).

“During his lifetime, Huzz worked for two employers, Kumpulan Karangkraf and Tinta Press Sdn Bhd, and contributed to Socso.

“With those contributions, even though he was no longer working due to illness, he qualified for the Invalidity Pension.

“Therefore, we processed it under that pension to allow his next of kin (mother) to receive a Survivors' Pension of RM1,027 per month for life and a one-time FMB payment of RM3,000,” he said after conducting a visit with the Socso Prihatin Squad (SPP) at Noor Hamid’s residence in Ampang Jaya today. Also present was Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, who is also Huzz’s sister.

Meanwhile, Nur-ul Afida said among her brother’s most memorable writings was when he managed to reconcile the relationship between the country’s two famous singers, namely the late Datuk Sharifah Aini, and Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, who were previously reported to have a feud and had not spoken for several years.

“At that time, Huzz was at Utusan, and he wrote the story to bring together these two prominent figures in the entertainment industry. It was not an easy task... unlike today, where sensationalism is more prevalent.

“Personally, I think that was a significant achievement for Huzz,” she said while expressing gratitude to Socso for the benefits provided to her mother.

Huzz, 58, the third of six siblings, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, and his health had been deteriorating since March before he passed away on June 8 at his brother’s house in Bertam Perdana, Penang.

Huzz had served as the editor of URTV magazine at Utusan Karya Sdn Bhd and was also known for his Sensasi Huzz gossip column in the Pancaindera pull-out of Mingguan Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA