Dewan Rakyat observes minute of silence to mourn the passing of late Syed Husin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat observed a minute’s silence on Tuesday (July 2) to mourn the passing of PKR founding member Dr Syed Husin Ali.

House Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul told the august House that Syed Husin, 88, had served as the Dewan Negara for two terms from 2009 to 2015.

“The late Syed Husin was known as a political figure who fought for social justice. He was also a renowned academic, a pioneer in the field of sociology in the country and one of the founders of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

“I call upon all Muslim MPs to recite Fatihah and observe a minute’s silence to pay tribute to late Dr Syed Husin Ali,” he said on Tuesday.

Syed Husin, who was deputy chairman of the PKR advisory council, died at Selayang Hospital on June 29.

The veteran academic was appointed deputy president of PKR after Parti Rakyat Malaysia, of which he was president, merged with Parti Keadilan Nasional in 2003.

Due to his involvement in militant actions such as the Baling protest in 1974, Syed Husin was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for six years.

At the time, farmers in Baling, Kedah, protesting against falling rubber prices and rising living costs, were joined by thousands of students led by student activist Anwar Ibrahim.

Syed Husin has also written several books, including “Dua Wajah: Tahanan Tanpa Bicara,” which details his experience of detention under the ISA, and “Sejarah dan Dasar Perjuangan Keadilan.”