SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS: A BY ZAHID …
Transcript of SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS: A BY ZAHID …
SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS: A
STUDY OF HIS WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
BY
ZAHID BIN ZAMRI
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for
the Degree of Master of Human Sciences (Political Science)
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human
Sciences
International Islamic University Malaysia
SEPTEMBER 2013
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ABSTRACT
The study attempts to look into the historical background of Syed Husin Ali’s po litical
and academic activities, the major socio-political thoughts that exist within his works,
how his ideas have influenced the political principles of the opposition parties, what
has shaped his socio-political thoughts and the similarities or differences that those
ideas have with Western or Eastern political thoughts. The study chooses the
qualitative method to analyse the discourse. We used qualitative content analysis in
our attempt to extract political ideas from the collected data. The primary sources are
his major works, where we extracted his socio-political thoughts. Then, we referred to
his documented and non-documented party speeches and his party’s political
principles and manifesto, in order to see how those thoughts are channelled towards
his party. Other sources such as open-ended interviews and discussions, articles, press
statements, and tabloids published by the newspapers that are associated with him are
taken as supportive documents. The study finds that four of the concepts that he has
always highlighted in his writings as well as speeches, namely neo-feudalism, neo-
colonialism, poverty and ethnic-based politics are developed based on the concept of
elitism, and the concept of elitism that he uses is to some extent similar to Gramsci’s
concept of bourgeois hegemony, thus rejecting the claim that he is an orthodox
Marxist or leans towards Weberian. In addition, it is undeniable that he was also
influenced by the ideas of the three Malay nationalists namely Dr. Burhanuddin al-
Helmy, Ahmad Boestamam and Pak Sako.
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خلاصة البحث
اتح ان اادحث اي اادرراة اادسياوةي اخاول انشاوطاوتو انبر اادتاوريحي انلي احسين اةير لفي االالأكاوديمي ؛ االاجتماونياهأفكاورالتأثير انلى اادسياوةي اادسلاا؛مؤدفاوتو االأحزاب ياوةي انلى
ا اثم اأفكاوره، اتنمي اي امهم النناوصر اامقاورن الدعاورض ؛ امع االأفكاور اادسياوةي االأتلك فكاورالادشلاقي اادغربي ا. انلى اادرراة االخطاوبلتنهج اتحليل انملي اي اادكيفي االدنهج لدذدك،ا.
اتخرياناوحاولد االأفكاور اج انلياادسياوةي الاجتماوني احسين اةير امؤدفاوت اجميع اخلا ام اقمناو اثم اىيا.لزتوياوتهاوبتثليلااالدوجودة االأةاوةي اافاولدراجع اأفكاورهمؤدفاوتو اادتيانخرجّ لبعرا.
،ابواادسياوةي حزا،المحاودئاالدرلن الغيراالدرلن اخطاوباوتاةيراحسينانلياناواإلىجعاراذدك،ااإلىادلثزالبياونارسميا لم االدراجعاالإضاوفي ا.الرموناوتاحزبوب،الدعرف اطريقاتوجيواأفكاوره
دراة امفتوح االدقاوبلاتالالدناوقشاوت،الالدقاولات،الادصثاوف ابوام ااادوةاوئلاالدرتحط كلالذذهااالادصثفاالدنشرا انلىاأنااتنتجاادرراة .اي االجرائراةادحياوناوت، اإشاورة إلىامؤدفاوتوالخطاوباوتو
امفاوىيم انلىاادسياوة ،اا:أربع اادقاوئم الادعرقي الادفقر، الالاةتعماوراالجرير، الإقطاوعاالجرد،ننرااادبرجوازي االذيمن لكاوناىذااالدفهوماقريباإلىامفهوما.انميتانلىامفهوماادنخحوي الكلهاو
امعين اجه انلى اغرامشي اادتقليرياللما. اديساالداوركسي احسينانلي اةير اأن انلى لتنتجبفكرةاادقوميونافكرةاةيراحسينانليااتلبرغماذدك،الااةيماواتأثرا.ايفضلابمذىباادويبري
مابهاةاوكو،اادذياأنجباقبرىاوناادري االحلمي،الأحمرابسطماوم،الفا.د:اادثلاث الدلايويوناا.اةيراحسينانلي
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ABSTRAK
Kajian ini cuba untuk melihat kepada sejarah latar belakang aktiviti politik dan
akademik saudara Syed Husin Ali; pemikiran sosio-politik beliau yang utama yang
terdapat dalam penulisannya; sejauh mana idea beliau mempengaruhi prinsip-prinsip
politik pihak pembangkang; dan apa yang telah membentuk pemikiran sosio-politik
beliau serta persamaan atau perbezaan yang dimiliki oleh idea-idea tersebut dengan
pemikiran politik barat atau timur. Kajian ini memilih metodologi kualitatif dalam
proses analisis diskursi. Kami menggunakan analisis kandungan kualitatif dalam
percubaan kami untuk mengeluarkan idea-idea politik dari data yang telah dikumpul.
Sumber primer adalah hasil-hasil penulisannya yang utama, sebagai bahan untuk kami
ekstrak idea-idea sosio-politik beliau. Kemudian, kami merujuk kepada ucapan-
ucapan parti beliau yang didokumentasi dan juga yang tidak didokumentasi; prinsip
dan manifesto parti politik yang beliau ceburi; sebagai cara untuk melihat penyaluran
idea-idea tersebut terhadap kelompok-kelompok parti politik yang beliau ceburi.
Sumber-sumber lain termasuklah temuramah dan diskusi; artikel-artikel; kenyataan-
kenyataan media; dan tabloid-tabloid yang diterbitkan oleh akhbar-akhbar yang
melaporkan cerita berkenaan beliau yang mana kami ambil sebagai dokumen-
dokumen sokongan. Menerusi proses ini, kajian mendapati ke empat-empat idea yang
selalu diutarakan beliau dalam tulisan-tulisan dan ucapan-ucapan partinya, yakni neo-
feudalisme, neo-kolonialisme, kemiskinan dan etnik-politik adalah dibina berdasarkan
konsep elitisme; dan konsep elitisme yang digunakan beliau adalah mirip kepada
konsep hegemoni bourgeois yang diutarakan oleh Gramsci, dan dengan itu menolak
dakwaan-dakwaan yang mengatakan beliau sebagai seorang Marxist ortodok, atau
condong kepada fahaman Weberian. Selain itu, tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa beliau
turut dipengaruhi oleh idea-idea oleh tiga orang nationalis Melayu yang beliau kagumi
iaitu Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy, Ahmad Boestamam dan Pak Sako.
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APPROVAL PAGE
I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms
to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and
quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Science (Political
Science)
………….............................................
Muhammad Fuzi bin Umar
Supervisor
I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable
standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a
dissertation for the degree of Master of Political Science
………................................................
Danial Mohd Yusof
Examiner
This dissertation was submitted to the Department of Political Science and is accepted
as a fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
……….................................................
Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar
Head, Department of Political Science
This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and
Human Science and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master
……….................................................
Ibrahim Mohamed Zein
Dean, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed
Knowledge and Human Science
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except
where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently
submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions.
Zahid bin Zamri
Signature …………………………………… Date…………….
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INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION
OF FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH
Copyright © 2013 by Zahid Bin Zamri. All rights reserved.
SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS: A STUDY OF
HIS WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the
copyright holder except as provided below.
1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research
may only be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgement
2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies
(print or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes.
3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieval system
and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by other
universities and research libraries.
Affirmed by Zahid Bin Zamri.
.………………..………………........... ………………………..
Signature Date
viii
To the “unsung heroes” of social justice
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to say Alhamdulillah, as my gratitude and syukur to Allah
(swt), the one and only God for giving me the strength to finish this thesis. Secondly, I
would like to say thank you to my parents, Asiah and Zamri, for making me believe in
myself and to be confident at all times. Then to my wife, Sulastriratna, and my little
daughter, Husna Mardhiyyah, for patiently waiting for me to complete this research
and listen to my passion for research writing. After that, I would like to thank my
supervisor, Dr. Muhammad Fuzi Umar for his consistent guidance and experience he
willingly shared during the study period. Then to Dr. Danial Mohd. Yusof, who gives
useful comments in examining the work. My appreciation also goes to Prof. Abdul
Rashid Moten, Prof. El-Fatih Abdel Salam, Dr. Ishtiaq Hossein, and Dr. Md.
Moniruzzaman for their reviews and comments of the thesis proposal in the
elementary stage of the study. Also to Dr. Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar and Dr.
Wahabuddeen Raess for supporting and encourage me to write a thesis at the first
place. For the Human Science thesis committee, thank you for being professional and
supportive by approving the thesis proposal. Not to forget, to Syed Husin Ali himself,
who despite his busy schedule, was willingly to discuss, correct, provide materials,
guide, help, and share his thoughts from time to time during the study process, even
though I am a “nobody” in the academic as well as political arena. His humble
attitudes, friendliness to all, highly discipline and strong in his belief made me
consider myself lucky to meet him. I am also covered by the feeling of “indebtedness”
to the Ministry of Higher Education for funding my study under the Skim Latihan
Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB) scheme and IIUM for the allowances given under the
Academic Trainee programme, which without those financial supports, it is almost
impossible for the lower class subjects like my family and I to pursue postgraduate
studies due to our “less-fortunate” socio-economic background compared to those
from the upper-middle and upper classes of the social structures of the society. Then, I
would like to extent my gratitude to IIUM’s library for the number of books that I lent
which apparently awarded me with the Best Customer Award for two consecutive
years in my study period. My appreciation also goes to the librarians of Dewan
Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) for their efforts in helping me to locate materials of
previous decades, especially for the files and newspapers essential for the study. Next,
I would like to thank Dr. Maimunah Abdul Kadir from the English Lab for editing the
thesis in terms of grammar, language and translation. My gratitude also goes to
Brother Affandi from the Department of Quran and Sunnah and Brother Fauzi from
the Arabic Lab for editing the Arabic abstract of the thesis, together with Brother
Aslam and Brother Md. Hashim of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPS) for
editing the thesis format prior to the binding process. Last but not least, I would like to
thank Sister Rafidah Iberahim and Brother Amin Zikri of the Management Service
Division (MSD) for entertaining me with regards to the Academic Trainee’s related
issues. Thank you very much.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………. ii
Abstract in Arabic………………………………………………………………. iii
Abstract in Bahasa Malaysia……………………………………………………. iv
Approval Page…………………………………………………………………... v
Declaration Page………………………………………………………………… vi
Copyright Page………………………………………………………………….. vii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………. viii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………... ix
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………… xiii
List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………………. xiv
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………….. 1
1.1 Background of the Study…………………………………………….. 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………….. 2
1.3 Objectives of the Study………………………………………………. 3
1.4 Justification of the Study…………………………………………….. 4
1.5 Literature Review…………………………………………………….. 5
1.5.1 Syed Husin Ali as a Scholar and Political Activist…...……… 6
1.5.2 His Contributions towards the Society………………..……... 7
1.5.3 His Socio-Political Thought……………………………..…... 9
1.5.4 Theoretical Works that Have Influenced Syed Husin Ali’s
Thoughts…………………………………………………..…. 13
1.6 Theoretical Framework………………………………………………. 13
1.7 Research Methodology………………………………………………. 14
CHAPTER 2: BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND…………………… 18
2.1 Family Background………………………………………………….. 18
2.2 Academic Background…………………………………………….… 20
2.2.1 School and Undergraduate Days……………………………... 20
2.2.2 Postgraduate Education………………………………………. 23
2.3 Activities as Academician…………………………………………… 26
2.3.1 Reconstructing the University’s Curriculum…………………. 26
2.3.2 Establishing PENA…………………………………………… 28
2.3.3 Defending the Welfare of Academic Staff…………………… 29
2.3.4 Proactive in Highlighting Social Issues……………………… 30
2.3.5 Baling Demonstration………………………………………… 31
2.3.6 Continued Academic Works Behind Bars…………………… 32
2.3.7 Lead the Malaysian Social Science Association……………... 34
2.3.8 Help to Establish the National University of Malaysia………. 35
2.4 Political Activities………………………………………………….... 36
2.4.1 Early Meetings with Renowned Writers and Political
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Activists………......................................................................... 36
2.4.2 Active under PRM……………………………………………. 40
2.4.3 Became the President of PRM………………………………... 42
2.4.4 Merged with keADILan………………………………………. 44
2.4.5 Becoming the Deputy President of KEADILAN and Forming
PAKATAN…………………………………………………… 45
CHAPTER 3: SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS
ON NEO-FEUDALISM AND NEO-COLONIALISM AND THE
MANIFESTATION OF THE IDEAS IN OPPOSITION’S POLITICAL
STAND…………………………………………………..................................... 47
3.1 Brief Introduction……………………………………………………. 47
3.2 Neo-feudalism………………………………………… ……………. 49
3.2.1 Feudal to Neo-feudal Society: from the “Slave Mentality” to
the Culture of Zero Dissent…………………………………... 49
3.2.2 Opposition Stand that Reflect Syed Husin Ali’s Ideas on Neo-
feudalism with Solutions for the Issue………………….......... 58
3.2.2.1 PRM…………...……………………………………….58
3.2.2.2 KEADILAN………………………………………….. 61
3.2.2.3 PAKATAN……………………………………………. 64
3.3 Neo-colonialism…………………..…………………………………. 68
3.3.1 Neo-colonialism as the Sin of Political Elites……………….. 68
3.3.2 Opposition Stand that Reflect Syed Husin Ali’s Ideas on
Neo-colonialism with Solutions for the Issue……………....... 75
3.3.2.1 PRM………………………………….……………….. 75
3.3.2.2 KEADILAN………………..…………………………. 78
3.3.2.3 PAKATAN……….…………………………………… 80
CHAPTER 4: SYED HUSIN ALI’S SOCIO-POLITICAL THOUGHTS
ON POVERTY AND ETHNIC-BASED POLITICS AND THE
MANIFESTATION OF THE IDEAS IN OPPOSITION’S POLITICAL
STAND………………………………………………………………………… 85 4.1 Poverty…………………….………………………………………… 85
4.1.1 Poverty is Not the Fault of the Poor………………….............. 86
4.1.2 Opposition Stand that Reflect his Ideas on Poverty with
Solutions for the Issue............................................................... 95
4.1.2.1 PRM………………………………….……………….. 95
4.1.2.2 KEADILAN…………………….……………………. 100
4.1.2.3 PAKATAN……………………….…………………… 103
4.2 Ethnic-based Politics……………….………………………………... 106
4.2.1 Ethnic-based Politics as a Means for the Survival of the
Elites………………………………………………………….. 106
4.2.2 Opposition Stand that Reflect Syed Husin Ali’s Ideas on
Ethnic-based Politics with Solutions for the Issue…………… 110
4.2.2.1 PRM……………….………………………………….. 110
4.2.2.2 KEADILAN……………….…………………………. 114
4.2.2.3 PAKATAN…………………………………………… 116
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CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION……………………………………………….. 121
5.1 The Lessons from the Study of Syed Husin Ali’s Socio-political
Thoughts............................................................................................... 121
5.2 Similarities, Critiques and Influences of Ideas from Intervening
Scholars……………………………………………………………….128
5.3 The Availability of the Very Same Ideas in Contemporary Coalition
Party Member’s Manifesto and Party Policies………………………. 134
5.3.1 The Exposure of PAS and DAP Members toward His
Works and Contributions..……………………………… 142
5.4 Limitation of the Study……………………………………………… 149
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………… 150
APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………….. 159
xiii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figures No. Page No.
1.1 Concept Categorization based on the first readings 16
5.1 The development of Syed Husin Ali’s ideas within the opposition
parties 122
5.2 The construction of Syed Husin Ali’s socio-political thoughts 123
5.3 The same type of concepts with Syed Husin Ali’s socio-political
thoughts that are available in other coalition party-members’
manifesto and party policies 140
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ASAS 50 Angkatan Sasterawan ‘50
BERSIH Coalition for Clean, Free and Fair Election
DAP Democratic Action Party
GPMS Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (Federation of Malay
Students, Peninsula)
keADILan Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party)
KEADILAN Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People’s Justice Party)
MSSA Malaysian Social Science Association (See PSSM)
NCP National Convention Party (See PPK)
NUSU Nanyang University Student’s Union
PAKATAN Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Coalition)
PAP People’s Action Party
PAS Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party)
PBMUM Persekutuan Bahasa Melayu Universiti Malaya (Malay Language
Association, UM)
PENA Persatuan Penulis Nasional (National Writer’s Association)
PKMM Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (Malay National Party of Malaya)
PPK Parti Perhimpunan Kebangsaan (See NCP)
PRM Partai Rakyat Malaysia (Malayan People’s Party); Parti Rakyat
Malaysia
PSSM Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia (Malaysian Social Science
Association)
UKM Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia)
UM Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya)
UMNO United Malay National Organisation
UMSU University of Malaya Student’s Union
xv
UNESCO United Nation Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation
UUCA Universities and University Colleges Act
1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
There is only a small number of iconic individuals in Malaysia, especially among the
Malays, who are also Muslims by birth, who can be categorized as academic and
political activists at the same time. Since they are of a rare breed, it is quite difficult to
find one. The lack of academic writing to accompany the political background of a
political figure in the country is the main gap in the Malay world. This problem of
“unavailability” can be identified in the earliest manuscripts that can be traced within
the Malay spectrum of writings. Most of the manuscripts produced by political figures
in the past were written in the form of “hikayat” or fables, which makes it difficult for
readers to extract the political ideas as they were symbolically presented within those
literatures. Therefore, it is a challenge to find a Malay political figure that has
substantial academic political writings, whose political ideas can be extracted,
classified, categorized and simplified into concrete and solid political thoughts to be
read and appreciated by the Malays, proud of their own people’s intellectual heritage.
The focus should include the opposition’s political ideas as they have also,
directly or indirectly, contributed in upholding the welfare of citizens through their
critiques of and their points of view on the government’s governance. The leaders of
these opposition parties have even been detained and jailed in prisons or detention
facilities for voicing out their thoughts. Nevertheless, only few attempts have been
made to highlight and compile the political ideas contributed by these so-called
“radical” thinkers. Yet, they are the ones that profusely write about their struggles and
transfer their critical thoughts onto papers.
2
After doing comprehensive reviews, consultations and discussions with
lecturers and colleagues, it is evident that Syed Husin Ali, who is coincidentally a
Malay by race and an opposition by politics, fits the characteristics needed for the
study. He is both an academic and political activist, who writes many academic books
and journal articles which focus on the politics of the nation. His political ideas are
clearly written based on provable facts, and he is able to address the problems of the
society as a whole and the Malays in particular. Being a former leader of Parti Rakyat
Malaysia (PRM) or Malaysian People’s Party, deputy president of Parti Keadilan
Rakyat (KEADILAN) or People’s Justice Party which are presently opposition
political parties as well as a former head of Persatuan Sains Sosial Malaysia (PSSM)
or Malaysian Social Science Association, have equipped him with vast knowledge
which makes him eligible to produce his own political thoughts. These attributes,
along with professorship in the field of sociology, should be enough for the researcher
to conduct a study on him and therefore look into his socio-political thoughts and his
contributions as a Malay politician in the country.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
As mentioned before, Syed Husin Ali is both a person with vast experience as a
scholar and an activist-citizen. Therefore, it is fruitful to look into his political ideas in
his writings as his approach is distinctive in analysing the society. Unfortunately, as
has been mentioned by Muhammad Ikmal Said and Zahid Emby, there are very few
theoretical discussions and almost no direct debate that have been made on Syed
Husin Ali’s theoretical stand on the social classes of the country, and this example of
3
neglect is only a fraction of a huge loss faced by both worlds of academics and
politics.1 Therefore, from this research, we have attempted to answer these questions:
1) What is the historical background of Syed Husin Ali’s political and
academic activities?
2) What are the major socio-political thoughts that exist within Syed Husin
Ali’s works?
3) How far have his ideas influenced the political principles of the opposition
parties?
4) What has shaped his socio-political thoughts and what are the similarities
or differences that those ideas have with the Western, Eastern or Islamic
political thoughts?
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study has these objectives:
1) To examine Syed Husin Ali’s political as well as academic background.
2) To extract and to categorize the socio-political thoughts that exist in his
writings and to highlight the problems that surrounded the community
from the opposition party’s point of view.
3) To understand the political behaviour and the fundamental political
principles that have been voiced out by the opposition parties.
4) To look into the ideas that might have steered and influenced his thoughts.
1 Muhammad Ikmal Said and Zahid Emby, “Introduction” in Malaysia: Critical Perspectives; Essays in
Honour of Syed Husin Ali, edited by Muhammad Ikmal Said and Zahid Emby (Petaling Jaya: Persatuan
Sosial Sains Malaysia, 1996), 3.
4
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Syed Husin Ali is a well-known political as well as academic figure in Malaysia. He
was a top-member of PRM, KEADILAN and was also the president for PSSM which
is a renowned academic organisation in the field of social science. Currently he is the
Director of Policy Issue for KEADILAN, which handles policy matters for the party.
This important position that he holds makes him the key person in steering the
political behaviour of the party, or in other words, the future of the opposition party.
Hence, indirectly, by looking at his political thoughts, we can also see the manifesto
objectives and principles that have been held by the opposition party in their
endeavour to become the next government of Malaysia.
As mentioned before, Syed Husin Ali’s struggle for social justice is delivered
not only in the form of writings but also through social and political activities. He had
even experienced detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for nearly six years,
from 1974 to 1980 for his involvement in peasant protests in Baling and Sik, and also
in student sympathy protests in Kuala Lumpur and Penang due to low rubber prices in
1974.2 Nevertheless, Muhammad Ikmal and Zahid Emby add that there are others who
view that his prolonged detention was because of the stratagems of power by
government’s political elites.3 As a man that has both theory and practicality in
politics, he has written many high-quality books that give new insights to readers in
analysing the socio-political landscape of the nation. Muhammad Ikmal Said and
Zahid Emby also state that Syed Husin Ali has managed to bring to light the “culture
and politics of class relations in the countryside, rural development, ethnicity, poverty
and labour.”4 Both authors agree that his critical works give new direction and new
2 Ibid., 2. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid.
5
insights for undergraduate as well as graduate students in understanding the Malay
peasantry and underdevelopment from both political and academic discourses.5
Therefore, it is considered a huge loss if the Malays do not try to highlight the
political thoughts in his writings for the benefit of future generations.
Ozay Mehmet mentions that Syed Husin Ali is among the underdogs but brave
scholars, along with Terence Gomez and Jomo Kwame Sundaram, who relentlessly
make social justice their main theme in their effort to help society.6 He adds that they
are the ones that have the passion to continue the legacy of James Puthucheary, who
was a well-known politician, public intellectual as well as founder of Barisan Sosialis
in Singapore.7 Hence, we can see that Syed Husin Ali has his own distinguished class
when it comes to social justice. The way he highlights and upholds the rights of the
public through his political as well as intellectual activities are different from the
conservative way of defining public rights. Therefore, by studying his thoughts, it can
provide an alternative way for us to understand and analyse the social fabrics of
society.
1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW
It is difficult to find an academic writing devoted solely on analysing the contributions
of Syed Husin Ali. However, scholars have made many passing comments on him.
These are reviewed under the following headings.
5 Ibid. 6 Ozay Mehmet, “James Putchucheary: A Pioneering Intellectual of Malaysian Economic Development
Strategy,” in No Cowardly Past; James Puthucheary: Writing, Poems and Commentaries, edited by
Jomo, K. S. and Dominic Puthucheary (Petaling Jaya: Strategic Information and Research Development
Centre, 2010), 89. 7 Ibid.
6
1.5.1 Syed Husin Ali as a Scholar and Political Activist
Syed Husin Ali is a political activist-cum-academician who fits the characteristics
needed for this study. In support of the statement, Cheah Boon Kheng, an expert
social scientist in the field of domestic politics, states that in 1993, Syed Husin Ali
was among the Malay intellectuals who criticized the feudalistic practises inside the
Malay society which included the immunity of the Malay rulers from being charged
under criminal acts.8 Then Kadir Jasin, a well-known journalist and renowned
blogger, also mentions that Syed Husin Ali is one of the Malay intellectuals who
strives for a more open or a less restrictive type of democratic system which does not
always associate party positions with government posts, or in other words, the
government’s voice should not be considered as representing the Malays as a whole
while there are other parties that do speak for the Malays too.9 Besides that, John
Hilley says he shares Syed Husin Ali’s view that intellectuals should be close to the
community through direct observation and involvement in the citizens’ affair in order
to think and write critically about the society, and not through writing books per se.10
Farish A. Noor also points out that Syed Husin Ali was among prominent academics
detained under the ISA due to their support for student protest on the poor welfare of
peasants in 1974.11
These reviews show the effort and sacrifice made by Syed Husin Ali as both a
political activist and an academician, and these contributions will be looked into next.
8 Kheng, Cheah Boon, “From End of Slavery to the ISA: Human Rights History in Malaysia,” in
Reinventing Malaysia: Reflections on Its Past and Future, edited by Jomo, K. S. (Bangi: Penerbit
UKM, 2001), 65. 9 A. Kadir Jasin, Damned That Thots, (Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing Sdn. Bhd., 2006), 62. 10John Hilley, Malaysia: Mahathirisme, Hegemoni dan Pembangkang Baru, translated from English by
PTS Publication (Kuala Lumpur: Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia, 2008), 164. 11 Farish A. Noor, Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party
PAS (1951-2003): Volume 1. (Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Sociological Research Institute, 2004), 266.
7
1.5.2 His Contributions towards Society
Some of Syed Husin Ali’s contributions to the community are stated by the following
reviews. To begin with, Kua Kia Soong, a former deputy chairman of Selangor State
Democratic Action Party (DAP) has pointed out Syed Husin Ali as a man who
struggles for social justice and abolishment of racism thus making him an effective
Malay Member of Parliament for the opposition bench.12
On another occasion,
Abdullah Ahmad, an outspoken politician, a former editor-in-chief of the government-
owned newspaper (New Straits Times) and a fellow ISA detainee, mentions that Syed
Husin Ali remained strong in developing his thoughts and belief in freedom of
thinking, even when they were both detained inside the barbwired rampart of
Kamunting.13
In relation to that, Mohammad Agus Yusoff points out that Syed Husin
Ali was among those who critically opposed the establishment of Putrajaya, due to its
legality and constitutional issues.14
Rustam A. Sani, a former student of his who is the
son of Ahmad Boestamam and also a prominent academician in the field of political-
sociology, dedicated a chapter on Syed Husin Ali in his last work prior to his
demise.15
In that chapter, he mentions that Syed Husin Ali is an “unsuccessful”
politician in the eyes of the public because of his disinterestedness on popularity and
assembling wealth; rather he is more focused on helping and defending the welfare of
the poor.16
Besides that, Sumit K. Mandal also mentions that Syed Husin Ali has
contributed to the study of the concept of race and ethnicity through his comparative
12 Soong, Kua Kia, Inside the DAP, (Kuala Lumpur: Potensi Serentak, 1996), 34. 13 Abdullah Ahmad, Notes from the United Nations, (Subang: Federal Publications Sdn. Bhd., 2005),
19. 14 Mohammad Agus Yusoff, “Putrajaya Sebagai Wilayah Persekutuan: Isu-isu Perlembagaan dan
Politik,” in Tinjauan Baru Politik Malaysia, edited by Maizatul Haizan Mahbob and Mohamad Zain
Musa (Bangi: Penerbit UKM, 2005), 31. 15 Rustam A. Sani, Ketemu di Alur Zaman: Himpunan Rencana tentang Beberapa Tokoh Masyarakat di
Malaysia, (Kuala Lumpur: Media Icon Sdn. Bhd., 2009), 19-24. 16 Ibid.
8
study of ethnic groups in Malaysia by using racial classification.17
In addition, Abdul
Rahman Embong, former president of PSSM before being replaced by Syed Husin
Ali, highlights that Syed Husin Ali’s Master’s thesis entitled Social Stratification in
Kampung Bagan remains an important literature for class stratification study among
academicians.18
Again, other academicians such as Ong Puay Liu and Sarmila Md
Sum have pointed out his contributions by stating that Syed Husin Ali remains a
proponent thinker for developmental studies in the country; for example in 1963, he
lectured on the subject of Modernisation and Peasantry Studies in University of
Malaya.19
He was able to spread his ideas on development studies, especially on rural
development, which was accompanied by high political consciousness content.20
Consequently, some of his students like H. M. Dahlan were influenced by his thoughts
and started to develop their own specialization on the science of development which
later on was called Development Science.21
In addition, Tim Bunnell also mentions
Syed Husin Ali as a fighter for middle class welfare when he strongly criticized the
government for providing poor shelters for the citizens, especially flat houses that
were so small, not equipped with playground for children and worst, exposed to
pollution as the garbage collection process was inefficient and was not on schedule,
turning these flat houses into new slums.22
These contributions made by Syed Husin
17 Mandal, S. K., “Transethnic Solidarities,” in The State of Malaysia: Ethnicity, Equity and Reform,
edited by Gomez, E. T. (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004), 59. 18 Abdul Rahman Embong, Malaysian Studies: Looking Back, Moving Forward, Kajang: Persatuan
Sains Sosial Malaysia, 2010), 97. 19 Liu, Ong Puay and Sarmila Md Sum. “Development Studies Entering a Cul-De-Sac? Reflections on
development Studies as an Academic Discipline: a Historical Appraisal,” Jurnal Elektronik Fakulti
Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Jilid 2, Bilangan 2 (January-December 2007): 1-22, 13. Jurnal e-Bangi,
<http://www.ukm.my/e-bangi/>. 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid. 22 Tim Bunnell, “Kampung Rules: Landscape and the Contested Government of Urban(e) Malayness,”
Urban Studies, Vol. 39, No. 9 (2002): 1694.
9
Ali have led this researcher to discover the ideas that have become his driving force
for his struggle in several available literatures.
1.5.3 His Socio-Political Thoughts
Most Malaysians who are politically literate will associate Syed Husin Ali with
socialism. For example, Khadijah Md. Khalid describes him as a man with a strong
socialist background; this reflection on his political image was also labelled by the
PAS leader himself, Nik Aziz Nik Mat.23
Prior to that, Mohd. Foad Sakdan explains
that under the leadership of Syed Husin Ali, PRM (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) has
extended its ideology of scientific socialism (which was then under the leadership of
Kassim Ahmad) to a new type of socialism which prioritizes Islam and nationalism.24
Moreover, Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, currently a distinguished professor in the field
of social science, concludes that Syed Husin Ali is a prominent scholar who
repeatedly analyses the relationship between class and race, class and communalism,
and class and ethnicity.25
This strengthens the point that Syed Husin Ali has adopted
socialism as his ideological pivot for his study of society. In addition, other scholars
such as Iguchu Yufu has stated that Syed Husin Ali stresses on the problem of poverty
in Malaysia as being caused by class division, and not because of race or ethnic
division of labour.26
He further clarifies that Syed Husin Ali explains that this
confusion happens due to the misunderstanding between the concept of multi-cultural
23 Khadijah Md. Khalid, “Voting for Change? Islam and Personalised Politics in 2004 General
Elections,” in Politics in Malaysia: The Malay Dimension, edited by Gomez, E. T. (New York:
Routledge, 2007), 149. 24 Mohd. Foad Sakdan, Pengetahuan Asas Politik Malaysia, (Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan
Pustaka, 1997), 131. 25 Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, “The Construction and Transformation of a Social Identity: Malayness
and Bumiputeraness Re-examined,” Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 52 (1996): 16. 26 Iguchi, Y., “Formation of Social Science in Malaysia: Contesting Meanings of “Plural” in Malaysian
Studies,” Ritsumeikan International Affairs, Vol. 9 (2011): 131.