THE Malaysian entertainment industry is in mourning following the death of actress Nadia Kesuma, who was previously reported missing after arriving in Jeddah earlier this week.
The news was shared by her husband, Dr Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan Abdullah, through a Facebook post, in which he expressed profound grief over her passing.
“Assalamualaikum, with a feeling of immense sadness and sorrow, I wish to inform you of the passing of my beloved wife, Nadiah Kasumawati binti Abdul Karim, who passed away peacefully in the land of the prophets, Jeddah, on 15 January 2026 at 8.07am.”
“May Allah grant her forgiveness. My love, I will always miss you. I am grateful that I was able to accompany you to your final destination. I love you and, God willing, we will meet again, hopefully in paradise. O Allah, indeed we come from You and to You we return,” he said.
In the same statement, Dr Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan described the late actress as a loyal, loving and sincere wife who carried out her responsibilities with unwavering dedication throughout their marriage.
Nadia Kesuma, whose full name was Nadiah Kasumawati Abdul Karim, was known for her roles in the films Syaitan Munafik and Kudeta.
Prior to the confirmation of her death, she had been the subject of widespread concern after being reported uncontactable shortly after landing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
She was among 21 participants travelling with a tour agency for an umrah and ziarah programme scheduled from 14 to 28 January.
According to the initial reports, Nadia was expected to continue her journey to London after a brief transit in Jeddah, but failed to appear when the rest of the group assembled for the onward flight.
Family members reportedly lost contact with her after she departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Jeddah at approximately 12.30am.
She did not answer calls or reply to messages after she was found not to have boarded the subsequent flight from Jeddah.
Her husband was later contacted by the tour agency and mutawwif, who informed him that Nadia was not on the scheduled flight. Despite repeated attempts to reach her, there was no response.
Further concern arose when her child used a tracking application which indicated that Nadia’s mobile phone was still located within the airport area, with its battery rapidly depleting.
The confirmation of her death has brought clarity to the sequence of events that had sparked public speculation and concern. Her passing marks the end of a distinguished career and a life remembered by loved ones as marked by devotion, kindness and faith. - January 18, 2026
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