Activist Kassim Ahmad dies a month before autobiography is launched
KULIM: His autobiography is ready and the launch date fixed for next month.
However, veteran writer and activist Dr Kassim Ahmad, 84, will no longer be able to witness the launch of a book that chronicles his life story.
He died at Kulim Hospital yesterday morning.
What saddened his son, Ahmad Shauqi, 50, is that Kassim never got a chance to flip through the printed copy as he was too ill before slipping into coma on Sunday.
“I brought back 10 copies of the autobiography for him to look through, but unfortunately, he was too weak to even glance through the pages,” Shauqi said in between sobs at Masjid Al Huda Muslim Cemetery in Kelang Lama after the funeral yesterday evening.
Kassim’s body was laid to rest at 7.30pm after Maghrib prayers.
Present were his wife, Sharifah Fawziah Syed Yussof Al-Sagof, 79; daughter Soraya; relatives and friends, including his former partner in Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Dr Syed Husin Ali.
Shauqi said his father’s death was a loss to the family and said he would continue his father’s legacy in the interest of Muslims and Malaysians. “On behalf of my family, I wish to convey our gratitude to the mosque committee members and those involved in the funeral, and also those who extended their condolences over my father’s death,” he said.
Syed Husin said he had lost a good friend and described Kassim’s death as a great loss to the country.
Kassim was warded on Sept 16 for a lung infection and was discharged on Oct 1, but was readmitted four days later after his condition deteriorated.
He died in the presence of his wife and children.
Kassim, the son of Islamic religious teacher Ahmad Ishak, was born in Bukit Pinang, Alor Star, on Sept 9, 1933.
He received his early education at a primary school in Bandar Baharu and attended the Sultan Abdul Hamid College for his secondary education. He furthered his studies at the University of Malaya in Singapore in the 1950s.
Kassim started his career as a researcher at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur before moving to London, where he spent four years lecturing on Malay studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
He was also a member of Parti Rakyat Malaysia under Ahmad Boestaman. He then led Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia with Syed Husin for 18 years before joining Umno.
Kassim was detained for five years under the Internal Security Act in 1976 for allegedly supporting the socialist-communist movement.
He was released in 1981.
In 1984, he sparked controversy for penning the book Hadis: Penilaian Semula. The book was banned by the Home Ministry two years later.
Among the books written include Characterisation in Hikayat Hang Tuah (1966), Kemarau di Lembah (1967), Perw a takan dalam Hikayat Hang Tuah (1973), Pengembara Dalam Perjalanan (1978), Universiti Kedua (1983), Hadis: Jawapan Kepada Pengkritik (1992), Quo Vadis Bangsaku?, Polemik Sastera Islam, Mencari Jalan Pulang Daripada Sosialisme Kepada Islam, Jalan Ke Parlimen and Hikayat Hang Tuah.
He was bestowed numerous honours, including a Doctorate of Letters, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1985), Gapena Award (1987) and Zaaba Award (2016).
It was reported that on March 27, 2014, Kassim was charged at the Putrajaya Syariah High Court for insulting Islam.
Two months ago, the Putrajaya Syariah Court acquitted him following the withdrawal of the charges by the prosecution.
It was reported that the Syarie prosecuting officer withdrew the case after agreeing with the Court of Appeal and Federal Court decisions, which ruled that Kassim’s arrest and prosecution by the Federal Territories Islamic Department were invalid.