Veteran blogger, activist Din Merican dies at 87

 .Author and political columnist Kee Thuan Chye says Din Merican was among the last of his generation who strongly believed in a multiracial and progressive Malaysia.

Din Merican, known as ‘The Malaysian DJ Blogger’, used his platform to advocate for the rule of law, democracy, and accountability. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Blogger and social activist Din Merican, who used his platform to advocate for the rule of law, democracy, and accountability, died today, aged 87.

His death was confirmed by his former wife, Dr Kamsiah Haider, in a Facebook post.

Known as The Malaysian DJ Blogger, Din frequently offered critical analyses on Malaysian affairs, championing reforms, and highlighting issues of social justice, human rights, and corruption.

He also campaigned for greater judicial independence, often highlighting cases where he believed the Malaysian legal system had failed or had been manipulated by politicians.

Din was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, and received his early education at Penang Free School.

He pursued his studies in economics at Universiti Malaya, graduated from the George Washington School of Business, and later, from George Washington University in the US.

Upon returning to Malaysia, he served the government as a foreign service officer and worked at Bank Negara Malaysia before moving to industry and commerce.

In a Facebook post, author and political columnist Kee Thuan Chye thanked Din for his contributions to the country, describing him as someone who consistently spoke out on issues of governance, democracy, and the nation’s direction.

Kee said Din was a “man of many talents”, noting that he was among the last of his generation who strongly believed in a multiracial and progressive Malaysia.

He recalled first meeting Din more than a decade ago at the launch of one of his political books, which Din and Kamsiah attended.

The couple treated Kee and his wife to lunch, marking the beginning of a long association between them.

Din featured in several of Kee’s subsequent books, with his writings and commentary frequently cited in discussions on Malaysian politics and governance.

In his tribute, Kee reproduced excerpts of Din’s past commentaries, including sharp observations on the state of the country’s political leadership.

In one commentary published in 2018, Din warned against over-reliance on political figures, arguing that systemic change could not depend on a single leader.

He also called for stronger checks and balances in government.

In a contribution reproduced in Kee’s 2014 book titled “Can We Save Malaysia, Please?”, Din expressed optimism about Malaysia’s future, particularly highlighting the younger generations as being more willing to challenge political leadership and push for change. - FMT