Tok Ram endured hardship and remains a caring elder brother, says Jalaluddin Hassan

Behind Ramli MS’s stern manner, actor Jalaluddin Hassan sees a sensitive and deeply caring man. Hassan said his friend, widely known as Tok Ram, has always valued family ties and took responsibility for his younger siblings as their eldest brother.

“He is actually very sensitive. He is very professional, and when he talks about music, he is very sharp,” Hassan said. “He may look harsh, but he actually cares deeply.” Hassan recalled that Ramli grew up in hardship in Singapore and still embraces his siblings whenever they meet, even though they now have families of their own.

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He is actually very sensitive. He is very professional, and when he talks about music, he is very sharp.

Hassan, 72, said Ramli’s affection sometimes appears in unexpected ways. “Sometimes he will ask, ‘Do you love me?’ That is how he expresses his affection,” he said.

Their relationship goes beyond friendship. Hassan considers Tok Ram a teacher in the performing arts and credits him with sharing his musical knowledge freely. During a trip to Romania, Ramli taught the group how to sing properly, including breathing technique and how to place the voice.

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Sometimes he will ask, ‘Do you love me?’ That is how he expresses his affection.

Hassan also praised Ramli’s sense of fairness. When an offer comes in, he said, Ramli makes sure everyone receives the same share. “If I get one thousand, the others get one thousand too. There is no more and no less. That is his principle,” Hassan said.

The comments came during the second-week concert of Kilauan Emas in Shah Alam. Hassan added that Ramli’s arranging skills are also recognized by prominent Malaysian musicians Datuk Fauzi Marzuki and Datuk M. Nasir.

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If I get one thousand, the others get one thousand too. There is no more and no less. That is his principle.