One of the country's legendary singers, SM Salim, 88, died at his home in Ukay Perdana, today, from old age.

He breathed his last at 5.44pm after he became so gravely ill since early yesterday that he had to be put on a ventilator.

"With sadness, I announce that SM Salim has passed away at 5.44pm," a family representative of the late singer told Bernama through a WhatsApp message.

Yesterday, there had been a stream of close relatives and friends arriving at the singer's family home to read the Yasin after he was reported to be in critical condition.

He will be laid to rest at the Muslim Cemetery in Jalan Ampang here after Friday prayers tomorrow, according to his grandniece Elyna Ali.

The funeral prayers will be held at the Kampung Baru Jamek Mosque in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30am, she said to reporters at his residence in Kuala Lumpur.

SM Salim, or his real name Sheikh Salim Sheikh Muhammad Al Mahros, began his career as a singer of classic Malay songs in the 1950s, and had been promoting this genre through the years with his stage and television appearances.

He became paralysed due to a nerve disorder and had been using a wheelchair for the last 17 years.

- Bernama