Death Of An Intellectual. Syed Hussein Alatas 1928 - 2007.

AL-FATIHAH

A former politician and academic, Professor Syed Hussein Alatas, died at his home in Damansara Heights, here at 9.30 Tuesday night. According to his son-in-law, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, Syed Hussein died of a heart attack.

He had earlier fallen down at home and was immediately taken to the University Malaya Medical Centre in Petaling Jaya, where he was pronounced dead. His remains were taken home early Wednesday morning for burial later Wednesday.

Syed Hussein was born on Sept 17, 1928 in Bogor, Indonesia. Syed Hussein's academic career began at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka where he worked as head of the research department from 1958. He had also served with the University of Malaya from 1963 to 1967 before being appointed as Head of the Department of Malay Studies of the National University of Singapore from 1967 to 1978.

Syed Hussein was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya in 1988. He was also among several intellectuals who had formed the Gerakan in 1968 as an offshoot of the defunct Labour Party. The Gerakan was relatively successful in the 1969 general election where it campaigned for social justice.

Syed Hussein also played an important role in the formation of the Parti Keadilan Masyarakat Malaysia (Pekemas) when Gerakan joined the Alliance coalition in 1972. However, the Pekemas collapsed in 1978 following massive defections. (Bernama)
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UPDATE: Prof Syed Hussein's Death A Great Loss