In memory of a towering Malaysian: Dr. Syed Hussein Alatas
Dr. Syed Hussein Alatas was a scholar and free intellectual spirit evoted to seeking the truth and improving Malysian society. His main academic contribution was in the structural analysis of corruption and other socio-political ills prevalent in modern systems, especially in Asia.
He was not simply a critic; he also provided alternatives based on humanistic and universal principles of fairness, justice and equity. I remember the many long nights spent with him in his Vice Chancellor’s residence discussing the many problems of the university and on how to improve the standards of scholarship and educational achievement. I vividly remember his insistence for standing firm on the principles of merit and excellence, irrespective of race. For this he paid a heavy price. He will do down in our history as a man of moral courage, living his values and beliefs in words and deed.
Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Kuala Lumpur
26th January 2007