Syed Husin Ali
{{Short description|Malaysian politician (1936–2024)}}
{{Malay name|Syed Husin|Ali|note=on}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| name = Syed Husin Ali
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|09|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Batu Pahat, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|06|29|1936|09|23|df=y}}
| death_place = Selayang Hospital, Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
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| resting_place = Kota Damansara Muslim Cemetery, Section 9, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
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| citizenship = Malaysia
| nationality = Malaysian
| party = Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM) {{small|(–1990)}}
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) {{small|(1990–2003)}}
People's Justice Party (PKR) {{small|(2003–2024)}}
| otherparty = Gagasan Rakyat (GR) {{small|(1990–1995)}}
Barisan Alternatif (BA) {{small|(1999–2004)}}
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) {{small|(2004–2015)}}
Pakatan Harapan (PH) {{small|(2015–2024)}}
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Syed Husin bin Ali (23 September 1936 – 29 June 2024) was a Malaysian academic and politician who served as president of the left-wing Parti (Sosialis) Rakyat Malaysia. He was also a prominent political detainee, who was held for six years without trial under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, from 1974 to 1980.{{Cite web|url=https://gerakbudayapenang.com/syed-husin-ali/|title=Syed Husin Ali|date=24 July 2014}} Following the merger of Parti Rakyat Malaysia with Parti Keadilan Nasional, he held the position of deputy president of the merged entity Parti Keadilan Rakyat from 2003 to 2010. He also served two terms in Malaysia's Senate (the Dewan Negara) from 2009 to 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2009/12/16/syed-husin-sworn-in-as-senator|title=Syed Husin sworn in as senator|website=The Star}}
Background
Syed Husin Ali was born in Batu Pahat, Johor, on 23 September 1936.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/523769|title=Syed Husin: After WWII, communists, May 13, ISA - MCO is nothing much|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=3 May 2020|website=Malaysiakini}} Syed Husin Ali's parents were of royal lineage from the Indonesian Sultanate of Siak.{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/592459|title=Syed Husin remembers #1: Merdeka-era leaders lost to the nation|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=23 September 2021|website=Malaysiakini}}
He had three older stepsiblings and three younger siblings including the activist/politician Syed Hamid Ali who was formerly head of PKR’s Batu Pahat division.{{Cite web|url=https://thenutgraph.com/leading-the-student-movement-in-the-1960s/|title=Leading the student movement in the 1960s|date=20 August 2010|website=The Nut Graph}}
He completed his primary education at Batu Pahat High School and secondary school education in English College Johore Bahru,{{Cite news |title=Syed Husin Ali meninggal dunia |date=2024-06-29 |url=https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2024/06/1105606/syed-husin-ali-meninggal-dunia |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=Harian Metro |trans-title=Syed Husin Ali died |language=ms}} before going on to obtain a B.A. Hons. as well as an M.A. from the University of Malaya (UM) and a Ph.D. (Social Anthropology) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the 1960s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/68761|title=Anything but politics: The revered Dr Syed Husin Ali|first=Francis Paul|last=Siah|date=18 June 2007|website=Malaysiakini}}
Author and academic
As an author and academic Syed Husin wrote and edited approximately 20 books.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Among them are The Malays: Their Problems and Future, Poverty and Landlessness in Kelantan, Two Faces: Detention Without Trial, Syed Husin Ali: Memoirs of a Political Struggle, The Malay Rulers: Regression and Reform, Ethnic Relations in Malaysia: Harmony and Conflict and A People's History of Malaysia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2019/02/04/syed-husin-ali-history|title=Malaysia's independence from Dr Syed Husin Ali's point of view |website=www.thestar.com.my}}
As a scholar, he constantly stressed the need to revisit Malaysia's official history, which he said was very often about individuals and groups in the elite strata of society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/592475|title=Syed Husin remembers #2: Konfrontasi and the early days of Malaysia|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=23 September 2021|website=Malaysiakini}} He believed that there was also an alternative history that needed to be explored which tells of the struggle of the common man.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/564630|title=Syed Husin: History books need open minds, not emotional politicians|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=28 February 2021|website=Malaysiakini}}
He became a British Academy Visiting Fellow, at Cambridge University in 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/35820|title=Syed Husin jadi profesor pelawat British Academy|date=3 May 2005|website=Malaysiakini}}
Internationally, he was also a member of the International Mission to Investigate Genocide in Bangkok, the Panel of Judges for the People’s Tribunal on Industrial and Environmental Threats in Bhopal, India, and the International Investigation into Deportees in Sri Lanka.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Political activism
While a student, he became the president of the Universiti Malaya Malay Language Society and was also secretary-general of the joint Committee of student groups - GPMS-UMSU-NUSSU.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Along with his housemate and fellow progressive intellectual Kassim Ahmad, Syed Husin was influenced by the Malay left-wing leaders Burhanuddin al-Helmy, Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako) and Ahmad Boestamam.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
He joined the Parti Rakyat Malaysia while also serving as an academic and along with Kassim, was part of the team of young leaders that re-branded the party as Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Socialist Party) in the late 1960s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/12070/how-i-managed-to-survive-syed-husin-ali|title=How I managed to survive: Syed Husin Ali|date=2 January 2021|website=The Vibes}}
Detention without trial
In 1974, Syed Husin was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) following protests by farmers in Baling and students in Kuala Lumpur.
He was tortured and asked to confess to being an agent of the Communist Party of Malaya. He was also asked to implicate members of the Malaysian government but Syed Husin declined to provide his interrogators with a false confession.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/592482|title=Syed Husin remembers #3 – Overcoming 1974 arrests and Ops Lalang|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=23 September 2021|website=Malaysiakini}}
During the initial stages of his detention in both the police lockup and at the notorious Kamunting camp, Syed Husin was often housed with then student leader Anwar Ibrahim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/12130/syed-husin-pt-2-leaving-a-legacy-of-sacrifice-and-service|title=Syed Husin Pt 2: leaving a legacy of sacrifice and service|date=3 January 2021|website=The Vibes}}
He was detained without trial for six years and released in 1980.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
In the 1980s, PSRM was much in the wilderness particularly after Kassim left the party to join Umno.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Syed Husin and lawyer Abdul Razak Ahmad were among the key figures who kept the party alive at this time.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Election contests
In 1990, he was elected as the president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, which was rebranding once again at the time and dropped the 'socialist' tag from its name.{{cn|date=June 2024}} As a result, he was asked to leave his job as a professor in the department of anthropology and sociology at the Universiti of Malaya.{{cn|date=June 2024}} The university used the 1975 amendments to the University and University Colleges Act that barred lecturers and students from active party politics to force him out of academic life.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/03/a-lifes-work-after-more-than-six-decades-of-political-struggle-dr-syed-husin-ali-is-elated-at-the-wi|title=Veteran socialist Dr Syed Husin Ali warns new govt not to just pander to big business|first=MARTIN|last=VENGADESAN|website=The Star}} He took optional retirement having served as a member of the teaching staff for nearly 28 years, which included the six years' detention without trial.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
Syed Husin contested three General Elections but lost in each.{{Cite news|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/592459|title = Syed Husin remembers #1: Merdeka-era leaders lost to the nation|newspaper = Malaysiakini|date = 23 September 2021}}
In 1990, he contested the Batu (Kuala Lumpur federal constituency) under the Parti Rakyat Malaysia banner as part of the Gagasan Rakyat coalition. He garnered 25,259 votes (40.13 percent) losing by 11,387 votes to Barisan Nasional's Alexander Lee Yu Lung.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
In 1995 and 1999, he ran in the Petaling Jaya Selatan (federal constituency) parliamentary race, losing on both occasions to Barisan Nasional's Donald Lim Siang Chai.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
In 1995, he garnered 15,021 votes (35.36 percent) losing by 11,625 votes to Lim while In 1999, he garnered 20,736 votes (45.30 percent) in losing to Lim by 3,845 votes.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
In 2004, his name was proposed as a Parti Keadilan Rakyat candidate for Kota Bharu, but this was rejected by PAS spiritual adviser and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat as well as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang both of whom cited Syed Husin's socialist background as objectionable.{{Cite web|url=https://dapmalaysia.org/all-archive/English/2004/mar04/lks/lks2918.htm|title=Hadi - uncharitable, scurrilous, arrogant|website=dapmalaysia.org}}
He was also involved in various human rights campaigns as well as championing the rights of urban settlers (squatters).
He served as president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia from 1990 until 2003, before taking office as deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in 2003. He served in that role until 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/588533|title=Syed Husin: Muhyiddin is just about the worst PM we've had|first=Martin|last=Vengadesan|date=25 August 2021|website=Malaysiakini}}
He also served as a Senator in the Dewan Negara of Malaysia, representing Selangor from 2009 to 2015.{{Cite web|last=VENGADESAN|first=MARTIN|title=Veteran socialist Dr Syed Husin Ali warns new govt not to just pander to big business|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/03/a-lifes-work-after-more-than-six-decades-of-political-struggle-dr-syed-husin-ali-is-elated-at-the-wi|access-date=12 October 2021|website=The Star|language=en}}
In 9 May 2018 he was part of Parti Keadilan Rakyat's election 'war room' as the party and Mahathir Mohamad unseat the Umno/Barisan Nasional which had been in power since Malaysia's independence in 1957.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/03/a-lifes-work-after-more-than-six-decades-of-political-struggle-dr-syed-husin-ali-is-elated-at-the-wi|title=Veteran socialist Dr Syed Husin Ali warns new govt not to just pander to big business | The Star|website=www.thestar.com.my}}
Personal life and death
Syed Husin was married to Sabariah Abdullah, who died in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2013/09/15/syed-husins-wife-68-dies|title = Syed Husin's wife, 68, dies}}
The couple had three children. His son Muhammad Ali Syed Husin (spelled Hussein) is an academic at the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/01/29/jellyfish-warning-for-sabah|title=Jellyfish warning for Sabah|website=The Star}}
Syed Husin died at Selayang Hospital on 29 June 2024, at the age of 87.{{Cite web |title=[UPDATED] PKR founder Syed Husin Ali dies at 87 {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2024/06/1069732/pkr-founder-syed-husin-ali-dies-87 |access-date=29 June 2024 |website=www.nst.com.my}} He was buried at Kota Damansara Muslim Cemetery, Petaling Jaya.{{cite web |title=PKR founding member Syed Husin laid to rest |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/29/pkr-founding-member-syed-husin-laid-to-rest/142088 |website=Malay Mail |access-date=29 June 2024 |language=en-MY}}
Election results
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Parliament of Malaysia{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php |title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri |publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=ms |access-date=4 February 2017 }} Percentage figures based on total turnout. !|Year !|Constituency !colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct !colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |
| rowspan=2|1990
| rowspan=2|P097 Batu | rowspan=2 bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} | | rowspan=2|Syed Husin Ali (PRM) | rowspan=2 align=right|25,259 | rowspan=2|40.13% |{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Alexander Lee Yu Lung (Gerakan) | align=right|36,646 |58.22% | rowspan=2|63,163 | rowspan=2|11,387 | rowspan=2|69.99% |
| {{party shading/Independent}} |
|Azizi Shariff (IND) | align=right|1,043 | align=right|1.66% |
| rowspan=2|1995
| rowspan=4|P095 Petaling Jaya Selatan | rowspan=2 bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} | | rowspan=2|Syed Husin Ali (PRM) | rowspan=2 align=right|15,021 | rowspan=2|35.36% |{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | align=right|26,646 |62.73% | rowspan=2|43,854 | rowspan=2|11,625 | rowspan=2|65.66% |
| {{party shading/Independent}} |
|Selvanathan Savarimuthu (IND) | align=right|811 | align=right|1.91% |
| rowspan=2|1999
| rowspan=2 bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} | | rowspan=2|Syed Husin Ali (PRM) | rowspan=2 align=right|20,736 | rowspan=2|45.30% |{{party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | align=right|24,581 |53.70% | rowspan=2|46,652 | rowspan=2|3,845 | rowspan=2|68.92% |
| {{party shading/Independent}} |
|Selvanathan Savarimuthu (IND) | align=right|457 | align=right|1.00% |
Selected bibliography
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2018 |title=A People's History Of Malaysia|isbn=9789672165101|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2013 |title=The Malay Rulers: Regression or Reform?|isbn=9789675832949|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2012 |title=Memoirs Of A Political Struggle|isbn=9789675832499|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2008 |title=Ethnic Relations In Malaysia: Harmony And Conflict |isbn=9789833782598|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2008 |title=Two Faces: Detention Without Trial | edition=reprint |isbn=9789833782574|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=2008 |title=The Malays: Their Problems And Future |isbn=9789839541625|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=1996 |title=Two Faces: Detention Without Trial |isbn=9839602047|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=1983 |title=Poverty And Landlessness In Kelantan |isbn=9783881562478|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=1975 |title=Malay Peasant Society And Leadership|isbn=9780195802658|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
- {{cite book |author-link=Syed Husin Ali |date=1964 |title=Social Stratification in Kampong Bagan: Study of Class, Status, Conflict and Mobility in a Rural Malay Community|isbn=9780710101006|last1=Ali |first1=Syed Husin }}
References
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Category:Members of the Dewan Negara
Category:Parti Rakyat Malaysia politicians
Category:People's Justice Party (Malaysia) politicians