Dr Kassim Ahmad Sekarang Di Declare Halal.

This morning I attended the book launch of  the late Dr Kassim Ahmad's autobiography "Kassim Ahmad : Autobiografi Seorang Pemberontak".

Here is the cover of the book. 

During the launch, Dr Kassim's literary career as well as his family background was explained. 

The autobiography was FOUR years in the making and I was aware of this effort throughout the four years. Many thanks are due to Tan Sri Rais Yatim and his officer Hesmel Faznee who assisted Dr Kassim Ahmad realise this book project. 

I have since read a little of the book. Dr Kassim's personal history is interesting. Dr Kassim attended the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Kedah which was co-ed. One of his classmates was a girl called Rahmah Abdul Hamid who later attended the University of Malaya in Singapore and married another student named Jamaluddin. Their son is Khairy Jamaluddin - the UMNO politician. Dr Kassim says that his old classmate Rahmah introduced him to her son Khairy. Later Dr Kassim autographed Khairy Jamaluddin's copy of the English translation of his famous book 'Hadith A Re-evaluation'.  That  English translation was done by me. 

Here are some old pictures from Dr Kassim's book. There are three of them here where I am also present. Here I must record my appreciation to the late Dr Kassim for remembering me in his autobiography. Dr Kassim and I shared a very close relationship for some time. 

In the first picture here, taken about 25 years ago, I am seated (extreme left) beside Dr Kassim. I cannot recall this particular event. The caption says "Bersama penulis dan juga pengasas blog "OutSyed The Box" Syed Akbar Ali, menghadiri suatu majlis. Beliau duduk di sebelah kananku."

I recall this next picture very well. This was the launching of our Jemaah Al Quran Malaysia or JAM on 11th June 1995.  I am seated in the middle. I was 35 years old.  The guest speaker was the late Prof Syed Hussein Al Atas (to my left in the picture). Dr Kassim was the Chairman and I was elected the Deputy Chairman.

The last picture here is Dr Kassim and me (the tall guy in the green shirt) in Terengganu.  This would have been circa 1993 when we formed the Forum Iqra. Both Forum Iqra and Jemaah Al Quran Malaysia were never approved by the ROS. That  is the influence of the Jahiliyah in Malaysia.  The caption says, "Turut serta Timbalan Presiden Forum Iqra Syed Akbar Ali". 

For the picture above, I recall that I drove Dr Kassim from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan then to Dungun (I believe). There we met this most interesting group (I thought so) of  Malay men.  They were all former socialists - some perhaps even more left than that.  They could debate materialism, capitalism, socialism, atheism, god, spirituality - in Dungun Terengganu !!  

From Dungun I drove to Jeli and then across the East West Highway to Gerik in Perak then to Baling in Kedah.  It was way past midnite when we were driving on the East West Highway, an interesting experience. We reached Baling in Kedah where there was no proper 'tandas' at the rest stop.   A kind woman who ran a food stall where we ate took us to her home closeby and let us use the bathroom.  It was a very kind act.

Anyway, Tan Sri Rais Yatim made a good speech at today's book launch.  Dr Kassim Ahmad was persecuted, prosecuted, jailed under the ISA and almost jailed even towards the end of his life - ALL BECAUSE OF HIS THOUGHTS.

Can you imagine the utter stupidity of persecuting, prosecuting or jailing someone just for their thoughts? How stupid can they get? That is what happened to Dr Kassim - throughout his whole life.

Anyway in his speech just now Tan Sri Rais Yatim said that that era has come to a close. There will be no more persecution and prosecution of people just for what they think, what they write in books or what they say.  

I really hope so too because being a writer myself (and having been "called" by JAKIM once, been interviewed by the Special Branch once (cordial) and charged in Court once) I can really understand and sympathise with Dr Kassim over the terrible punishment that was inflicted on him. When he was detained under the ISA, he was once put in solitary confinement in a small cell for SIX MONTHS straight. Dr Kassim Ahmad was released from ISA only when Dr Mahathir became the Prime Minister.  

To close it would be criminal if I did not repeat here Dr Kassim Ahmad's message to all Muslims and especially to all Malays.

Please read the Quran and understand its message.

The Quran will make us great again.

Do not be fooled by the kasta paderi. 

Do not believe the kasta paderi. 

Do not even listen to the kasta paderi.

They are a big part of the reasons why the Malays are backward and struggling. 

Remember this message.