CAP FOUNDER S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS DIES
President of Consumers Association of Penang dies of heart failure
S.M. Mohamed Idris, the face of Malaysia’s consumerism movement, died at a private hospital here yesterday due to heart failure.
The founding member of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) was 93.
Idris, known for his trademark songkok and white beard, was hospitalised several times in recent months.
The latest episode saw him being admitted into Penang Gleneagles last Friday for heart complications.
Despite being spotted in a wheelchair on numerous occasions, Idris, who was also Sahabat Alam Malaysia president, could still gave press conferences at the CAP headquarters in Jalan Masjid Negeri here.
CAP research officer N.V. Subbarow
said despite his condition, Idris came to the office regularly.
“He could walk with the help of a walking stick. I last saw him last week. This is a very sad day for all of us. He will be deeply missed.”
Penang Forum Steering Committee member Khoo Salma Nasution said the state had not only lost its champion, but also its green protector.
She said Idris had been instrumental in defending the people’s rights as consumers and spearheading the discourse on healthy and planet-conscious living.
“He was gentle with his friends, and fierce with shameless polluters and destroyers of the environment.
“He was loved and admired by many of us in the environmental movement and we deeply mourn his death,” she told the New Straits Times.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said he was saddened by news of Idris’s death.
“My condolences to his family. He gave a lot of advice to me, especially in matters concerning consumerism.”
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar conveyed his condolences to the family of the consumer activist.
“He was a pivotal voice and an opinion maker to ensure improvement in the standards of services, goods and consumer protection.”
Idris is survived by four children. He served as a George Town councillor in the then city council in 1955.
Among Idris and CAP’s notable achievements was the formation of the Department of Environment (DoE) in 1975.
CAP’s work on environmental issues was instrumental to the setting up of DoE.
The Penang Hill project, which was cancelled in 1991 following the rejection of its Environmental Impact Assessment by the DoE, was another success which helped protect the watershed areas in the state.
Other achievements include the labelling of expiry dates on food products, ban on cigarette advertisements, improved Social Security Organisation and Employees Provident Fund benefits for workers, as well as better protection of tenants and housebuyers.
Despite his age, Idris had continued to fight for consumer and environmental issues in Penang.
He was vocal in his protests against several major developments in the state, including the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) and Penang South Reclamation (PSR).
He was scheduled to address the press on Monday over a petition against PSR.
In March 2012, he engaged in a verbal exchange with former chief minister Lim Guan Eng, who had dismissed the former as an “old man”.
Lim reportedly called him that when dismissing allegations by CAP that no consultations were held with stakeholders regarding planned multi-billion ringgit mega infrastructure projects in the state.
Idris, did not give in and stood his ground.
He was born in southern India on Dec 6, 1926.
He became CAP’s president in 1969.
He received his early education at a madrasah and Tamil school in India, before accompanying his father to Penang at a young age.
He later attended a Christian missionary school here, but did not finish his education because of the outbreak of World War 2.
Idris is a respected non-governmental activist and had been involved in political and welfare bodies since the 1950s.
His brother, Mohideen Abdul Kader, said his remains would be buried at the Jalan Perak Muslim Cemetery today.