Yasmin Ahmad, Malaysian film legend, laid to rest.

KUALA LUMPUR: Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, who died at the Damansara Specialists Centre last night, was laid to rest today at the USJ 22 Muslim Cemetery in Subang Jaya

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was present, said the country lost a talented film director.

"We are saddened by her sudden demise. In fact, there was a negotiation going on between Yasmin and Datuk Johan Jaafar (Media Prima Bhd executive director) to produce films and commercials on racial unity and the 1Malaysia concept," he said.

Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said even though Yasmin could not fulfil her wish, he hoped that other film directors would take up from where Yasmin had left off in the efforts to nurture unity through arts.

AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said the late Yasmin was a special person and full of fresh ideas.

Songwriter Habsah Hassan described Yasmin's death as a great loss to the country's film industry.

Renowned film director Othman Hafsham said that even though he did not know Yasmin well, they did share ideas on how to produce high quality films and commercials.

"She was a filmmaker with great ideas including in interpreting the 1Malaysia concept and promoting the culture of unity in her work. Here in this cemetery we can see the testimony of her work," he said.

Yasmin breathe her last at 11.25pm last night. She collapsed while presenting a working paper at the Sri Pentas, TV3's headquarters, on Thursday. - Bernama