Blogger Raja Petra dies in UK aged 73

Veteran blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has passed away in Manchester, UK at the age of 73.

His brother Raja Idris confirmed the death to Free Malaysia Today, saying Raja Petra died at 11.26pm UK time on Monday, Sept 9.

Raja Petra, widely known as RPK, was twice detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2001 and 2008.

Once an ally of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parti Keadilan Nasional, he changed his stance in April 2011, three years after he was released from his second detention.

Anwar conveyed his condolences to Raja Petra’s family.

“I’m also saddened (by the passing). I hope Allah will forgive his soul and provide strength to his family,” he said on Facebook.

PSM deputy president S Arutchelvan also mourned Raja Petra’s passing, calling him a colourful and fearless critic of the state.

“(Suaram adviser) Kua (Kia Soong) called him a cyber anarchist. A royalty in exile. He had an interesting way of explaining events and historical facts.

“I am sure his writings and comments will continue to be used by friends and enemies in their respective angle.

“Rest in power and thank you for adding spice and colour to our politics,” he added.

Controversial views

Born on Sept 27, 1950, in Surrey, England, he ran the Malaysia Today website, which published his sometimes controversial takes on Malaysian politics.

Formerly a student at Malay College Kuala Kangsar and the Victoria Institution, he was a member of the Selangor royal family through his paternal grandmother Tengku Badariah Sultan Alaeddin Suleiman Shah who was the sister of the late Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah.

Raja Petra’s first detention was on April 11, 2001, when Raja Petra and 10 other opposition activists were detained under ISA for allegedly plotting to overthrow then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He was released 52 days later.

His second detention was on Sept 12, 2008, and he was freed from detention two months later on Nov 7.

Following his release from his second detention he moved to the UK on self-imposed exile.

That year he also sparked controversy when he linked former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Raja Petra, however, made a U-turn three years later, claiming that the information came from a source close to Anwar who was the opposition leader at the time. - Mkini