THE man who acted as the hero Mat Salleh in the 1983 film of the same title, Elias Lantau Augustine, passed away late this morning. He was 89 years old.
Elias breathed his last at Kampung Barus Bohokon in Tuaran, near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
In the Sabah Film Production film Mat Salleh, Elias acted alongside Ghazali Sumantri and Maria Arshad.
He is also recognised as the first from the Suang Lotud of the Dusun ethnic group to have been cast in the Malay film industry.
The former Mr Sabah 1963 acted in the 1973 film directed by Omar Rojik, Puaka, Si Buta in 1975, Rahsia Hatiku (1975), and Loceng Maut (1977).
According to family members, Elias died around 11:54 am this morning at the family home in Tuaran.
Contrary to the Malay term Mat Salleh which refers to Caucasians, Mat Salleh refers to Datu Paduka Mohammad Salleh Datu Balu, a hero from Sabah who fought against the British between the late 19th and early 20th century. – The Vibes, May 24, 2024
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