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

ii

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.

iii

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

iv

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.

v

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

vi

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…………….

vii

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

ix

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.

x

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

xi

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

xii

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

xiv

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.