Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Syed Husin Ali, the founding member of PKR, has died at the age of 87. His son Muhammad Ali said the mortal remains of Syed Husin Ali will be taken to the mosque in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, before the burial, where prayers and last rites will be carried out.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil shared the news of Syed Husin’s demise early this morning on Facebook.
The octogenarian was admitted to Selayang Hospital on the second day of Hari Raya Aidiladha earlier this month, Fahmi said.
Syed Husin Ali was reported to be in critical condition earlier this week.
Syed Husin Ali: Contributions and Legacy
“The deceased contributed a lot to the party and the rakyat and published a lot of books, including ‘Two Faces: Detention Without Trial,’ which chronicles his detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), as well as ‘Memoirs of a Political Struggle’, and got involved in many elections and struggles in the country’s political arena.
“Syed Husin’s views were much respected in the country, and the party leadership often referred to him. He was patient and soft-spoken, yet strict when it came to discipline, and gave a lot of advice, including to yours truly,” said Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson.
Political Career
Syed Husin became vice-president of the PKR following the merger of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, of which he was president and Parti Keadilan Nasional in 2003.
The former Universiti Malaya associate professor was detained under the now-abolished ISA from 1974 to 1980 for advocating for the struggles of impoverished farmers in Baling, Kedah.
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He had since called on the government to apologise to all ISA detainees.
He had also urged the government to repeal controversial laws such as the Sedition Act and the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Election Participation and Written Works
Politically, Syed Husin Ali contested three elections to the Dewan Rakyat in the 1990s, but lost each time before serving in the Dewan Negara for two terms, from 2009 to 2015.
This father of three has written and edited around twenty books, including ‘The Malays: Their Problems and Future’, ‘Poverty and Landlessness in Kelantan’, ‘The Malay Rulers: Regression and Reform’, ‘Ethnic Relations in Malaysia: Harmony and Conflict’ and ‘A People’s History of Malaysia’.
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