Malaysia has lost a precious gem in the national film industry with the death of legendary actor Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

"Jins Shamsuddin was among the country's legendary figures who changed the local film landscape after Tan Sri P. Ramlee, who was also a legend. We will definitely miss him," he said to Bernama today.

Jins died at a clinic in Taman Melawati where he was taken after complaining of difficulty breathing when having tea at home at 5.45pm. He was 82.

Jins had acted in over 40 local and international films as well as directed a few box office movies in his 50 years in the industry, starting with his first movie entitled 'Matahari' in 1951.

Salleh said Jins became well known as the Malay James Bond after playing the character Jefri Zain, a secret agent, in the movie entitled 'Gerak Kilat' which had successfully introduced local movie fans to the action thriller genre. - BERNAMA