In loving memory of Dato' Fadzil Noor

To Malaysians who only know the late Opposition Leader and PAS president Fadzil Mohd Noor from afar and through mischievous propaganda, he is seen as the head of a group of Islamic ‘firebrands’, ‘fundamentalists’ and potential ‘terrorists’.

However, for those who know him personally, or had met or talked with him, Fadzil Noor was a soft-spoken, cultured and gentlemanly leader who loved people — Muslims and non-Muslims alike — in his own reticent way.

I last met him at a fund-raising dinner in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur about three months ago, where both Muslims and non-Muslims attended. He later shared with us his thoughts, assessment and opinion of the current situation in our country, as well as the future of the nation.

We met again from afar in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka when he shared the same platform with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to speak on Israeli oppression.

Simple but dignified

Indeed, we met many times in recent years, either at PAS’ headquarters in Selangor or the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the different venues and types of people attending his talks, Fadzil Noor always spoke softly and slowly in a simple but dignified language, showered with light-hearted and humourous analogies so that lay people could understand complicated politics.

His posture and body language, like his political messages, had never been threatening, offensive or aggressive. On the contrary, one could only feel the presence of a patient and loving teacher.

To Fadzil Noor, the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall is a cultural symbol to be respected, not threatened or terrorised. He not only spoke frequently in the Hall to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, but also celebrated Chinese New Year with Malaysians of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, held in the building by Chinese leaders, members and supporters of PAS, Keadilan and PRM.

Lest we forget: under his leadership, PAS publicly condemned the anti-Chinese riots in Indonesia in May 1998. For Fadzil Noor, human rights and human dignity are universal concerns that transcend race, religion, culture and national boundary.

Since 1986, PAS under the leadership of Fadzil Noor has consistently defended the right of the Chinese, Indian and other Malaysians to mother tongue education. He even personally visited a Chinese primary school housed temporarily in a Chinese temple in Petaling Jaya after it was forced to leave the original site. Chinese schoolchildren and their parents and teachers applauded and welcomed the humble and fatherly leader of the Islamic opposition.

Deep love for the oppressed

In an article he wrote for PAS’ organ Harakah just before he was hospitalised, he encouraged young Malaysians, especially Muslims, to upgrade their proficiency of the English language, while cautioning the government not to jeopardise the position of the Malay language and cultural identity of the nation.

Despite his high education, Fadzil Noor was obviously a man with a deep love for the oppressed and downtrodden people. Because of that humane commitment to empower and uplift them and their children morally, spiritually and intellectually, he gave up his comfortable and secure position in academia and dedicated his active life to the struggle for justice.

With patience, fortitude, courage and selflessness, Fadzil Noor gave voice to the voiceless, as well as dignity, self-confidence and hope to the oppressed, downtrodden and persecuted. Under his statesmanship, a broad and multiethnic coalition was formed to oppose, in peaceful and constitutional manner, the injustices and cruelties inflicted on former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, his family and other Malaysians.

Grooming young leaders

As a true leader, he consoled and protected women and children, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, whose husbands, fathers and loved ones have disappeared into the cells for solitary confinement, torture chambers and detention camps in recent years. His concern for justice had never been rhetorical, sophisticated or conceptual for international consumption, but practical, straightforward and down-to-earth for domestic purposes.

Despite his own vernacular and religious education, Fadzil Noor was never afraid of grooming many young PAS leaders who are highly educated in secular knowledge and well-versed in English. Fadzil Noor had therefore left behind a party that is not short of talented successors.

In Fadzil Noor, I have seen what a just, compassionate, brave and farsighted man he was.

Dear friend, rest in peace. May God bless your soul.



(Originally published in malaysiakini.com on 24 June, 2002)