The name, given by the late A.R. Tompel, stuck, but was shortened through the years, and the name Bat Latiff became familiar with film-lovers then.

While Bat was more known for his role as Belalang in Nujum Pak Belalang, directed by the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee in 1959, his resume was outstanding.

The eldest of three siblings, Bat was born in Changi, Singapore, on June 10, 1951.

His father was a Bugis spice merchant while his mother, Mariam Kembar, of Thai parentage, was an actress.

Bat, however, was always known to have been closer to his grandmother Maimun Haris, and his aunt, the late Datin Saadiah Baharom.

When his parents divorced, his mother married Rahim, the father of veteran singer Rahimah Rahim.

Bat is also cousin of actress, host and singer Fauziah Ahmad Daud, or Ogy.

He received his early education at Manorth School, before completing his O Levels at the Toa Payoh Secondary School in Singapore.

Bat’s entry into the film world began when he followed his aunt, the late Saadiah, on location, carrying her make-up kit.

As luck would have it, Jamil Sulong was looking for child actors for his film Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup, and Bat aced the auditions from 20 kids for the role of Pekan, the son of Neng Yatimah’s character.

He then got a role in Singapura Dilanggar Todak at the tender age of nine.

Working under the directorial advice of the late and great Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Bat, in many interviews, recalled his bittersweet experiences.

His numerous mistakes in a scene for Nujum Pak Belalang caused a particular scene to be done eight times, only for him to be called ‘stupid’ by the director.

But P. Ramlee was a doting ‘uncle’ to Bat as well.

Such experiences, however, paid off when it established him as one of the leading child talents alongside Habibah and Tony Castello in Anakku Sazali.

It also won him the Best Child Actor award at the 7th Asia Pacific Film Festival in Tokyo in 1960. An honour which he reclaimed in Taipei in 1964 for his role in Gerhana.

That same year, he got to act alongside his aunt, Saadiah, in a Shaw Brothers production in Korban directed by Diresh Ghosh.

He also acted in Si Tanggang, Kasih Ibu, Seri Tanjung, Yatim Mustafa, Wan Perkasa, Tun Perak and Mambang.

Satu Titik Garisan, a release from Cathay Keris in 1970, was the last film he acted in at just the age of 21.

He attributed the end of his acting career to the closing of the Jalan Ampas studio, which left him switching to his other love, dancing.

He took up not just Western forms of the art, which included ballet, but also basic Indian dance.

When he began his foray into dance, with A-Go-Go being the craze among youths in the ’70s, he formed the dance group Bat Latiff Junior.

Soon after, he made his move to Malaysia for good.

He had a group, the Bat Latiff Dancers, and also worked as choreographer and freelance dancer for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

He even formed a kid’s pop group called Anak Anak Belalang in the mid 90s.

Obtaining his citizenship in 2000, Bat, who was single, was said to have been facing a myriad of health ailments including a weak heart, high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes.

And last Tuesday, at about 3.15pm, Bat passed away in his home in Desa Hillview Tower, Ampang Hulu Klang, Selangor.

His body was found in his home about four hours later by one of his close acquaintances, Azizi Mohamad Said.