An event honouring the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) founder, the late SM Idris, has ignited a family feud over the presence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Idris' daughters said Anwar, officiating the event, had sullied their father’s legacy, and noted that he is the subject of a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by Idris’s grandson and their nephew, Yusoff Rawther.
Idris' brother and current CAP leader, Mohideen Abdul Kader, however, defended the event and claimed that the late activist would have been proud of it.
The event was to mark the launch of a book about the CAP founder, for which Anwar had written the foreword.
Idris’ daughters - Ayisha, Fathima and Khatija - criticised the forum and book launch on Monday, claiming it was held without the consent of Idris’s immediate family.
"We wish to state firmly that the family never gave consent for Anwar to write the foreword, or to be involved in any capacity in relation to this book, in light of the alleged misconduct by Anwar against our late father’s grandson, Yusoff, a matter that remains before the courts.
"CAP’s conduct in this matter reflects a grave moral failure. It is wholly inappropriate for Anwar, whose writings were not consented to by the family, to be given the space to write the foreword and to be accorded principal honours at an event meant to commemorate our late father," they said in a statement on Monday.
Blind eye to injustice
The sisters further accused the organisers of turning a blind eye to the injustice faced by the family.
They also claimed that Idris would not have wanted such an event.
"Throughout his life, he shunned the stage, titles, and self-interest. CAP’s actions today constitute a clear deviation from these principles, exploiting the name and legacy of a principled figure for institutional and contemporary political interests.
“This is not an act of honour. It is an appropriation of our father’s legacy," they said.
The trio also criticised CAP for using promotional materials that featured symbols of government and national initiatives such as Madani Malaysia, Asean Malaysia 2025, and Visit Malaysia 2026.
In a rebuttal on Tuesday, Mohideen lamented the complaints by Idris' daughters, saying it was an attempt to bring disrepute to the CAP.
He said CAP's leadership had given due consideration to his nieces' complaints, but that they ultimately decided to proceed with the event, saying it was the best way to honour the organisation's founder’s legacy.
"Since 1969, CAP has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of ordinary citizens, of ensuring a healthy environment for everyone, and of building a just society. That is the enduring legacy of my late brother and the founder of CAP.
"The event, attended by his old friends, comrades from civil society, and young activists and students from all walks of life, was a sincere celebration of that very legacy.
"It was made more meaningful by the presence of Anwar, who joined us in celebrating the publication of this important book. The prime minister's presence underscored the long and intimate relationship he had with the late Idris and with CAP itself," he said.
Family feud
The family feud echoes back to 2019, when Mohideen claimed that Yusoff, a former staffer of Anwar, had been manipulated by politicians, following a statutory declaration by Yusoff accusing Anwar of sexual misconduct.
A civil suit filed by Yusoff against Anwar is still at the courts, with an appeal by the prime minister to halt the case set to be heard next March.
In the process of the suit, Yusoff was also charged on Oct 9 last year, when he was accused of trafficking 350g of cannabis found in his vehicle and possessing two fake guns.
He was taken into police custody on Sept 6, 2024 and denied bail until he was acquitted by the High Court on June 12 this year.
Judge Jamil Hussain had ruled that the prosecution could not prove Yusoff had custody or knowledge of the drugs and fake guns, which would make it unsafe to order him to defend himself against the charges. This led to his acquittal.
The judge also said that Yusoff’s right to a fair trial was prejudiced when the authorities had failed to investigate his police report lodged after his arrest, where he claimed to have been a victim framed by Anwar and another former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, in this case. - Mkini
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